^ 





THE 

FAMILY 
Temperance Meeting, 

OR 

AN TLLUSTRATrON 
OF THE 

mtttrc, Symptoms, * mm m t%L 

fir 



»V THE AUTHOR OF 

"Sabbath .School Teacher's Visits." 




1 o » t o n : 



1830. 





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VxbxM# af Wmptw. 



JMJg±. .1T.-2. 



*eo./zy i ty/tt ^=/V§- . 



UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 




" For more than a year lie has not tasted ardent spirit. 
Peace is restored to his family ; his wife, forgetting all that 
is past, again feels for him the affection of former days ; 
his children are no longer afraid of him ; the elder ones re- 
gard him with renewed respect, while the little ones fondle 
around him as he returns from work, and call him their 
own dear papa." — Page 76. 



THE 



FAMILY 



TEMPERANCE MEETING: 



AN ILLUSTRATION 



NATURE, SYMPTOMS, and DANGER 



INTEMPERANCE. 



BY THE AUTHOR 0F V <1 



"Sabbath School Teacher's Visits:' 



Boston : 

PUBLISHED BY JAMES LORING. 
1830. 



o8 



DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit : 

District Clerk's OfficB. 
Be it remembered, That on the twenty-fourth day of Sep- 
tember, A. D. 1830, in the fifty-fifth year of the Independence of 
the United States of America, James Loring, of the said District,, 
has deposited in this office ^he title of a Book, the right whereof 
he claims as Proprietor, in the words following, to wit : 

" The Family Temperance Meeting ; or an illustration of the 
Nature, Symptoms, and Danger of Intemperance. By the Author 
of 'Sabbath, School Teacher's Visits.' " 

In conformity -to the act of the Congress of the United States, 
entitled " An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by secur- 
ing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the authors and pro- 
prietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned :'* 
and also to an act entitled '^An Act, supplementary to an Act, 
entrfcLe.d % An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing 
the copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the authors and pro- 
prietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ; 
and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, en- 
graving, and etching historical and other prints." 



'c of Massachusetts. 



/7-f 



THE 



FAMILY 
TEMPERANCE MEETING. 



CHAPTER I. 

"Children should be taught early the nature, symptoms, 
and danger of Intemperance, that they may not unwittingly 
fall under its power." 

"To all our schools, instruction on this subject should be 
communicated, and the Sabbath Schools now spreading through 
the land, may in this manner lend a mighty influence to prevent 
the intemperance of the rising generation."-— Dr. Beecher. 

" Father, what is a Temperance Society V* 
said Francis Newell. " The papers are full of 
accounts of Temperance Societies and Temper- 
ance Meetings. I do not understand it." 

" Do not the accounts you mention, give you 
the desired information, Francis?" was Mr. 
NewelPs reply. 

Francis. " No sir ; not entirely. I looked 
in my dictionary to find the meaning of temper- 
ance, and it said, c moderation, patience.' But 

B 



O THE FAMILY 

the object of these Societies seems to be, to 
keep people from drinking. " 

Mr. Newell. " If you had looked in the large 
dictionary, you would have found that, besides 
including ' moderation, patience, and calmness 
in passion/ temperance was defined as l opposed 
to gluttony in eating and drinking.' I think 
you can now understand why those associations, 
which are designed to prevent excess in the 
indulgence of one of the bodily appetites, are 
called Temperance Societies." 

Henry, a younger brother of Francis, who 
had been listening to the conversation, now 
said, " Papa, do Temperance Societies wish to 
prevent people from drinking any tiling V % 

Mr. Newell smiled, and said, <c Your rather 
loose assertion, Francis, has deceived your 
brother ; you must explain to him your mean- 
ing." 

Francis. " I did not mean, Henry, that the 
members of Temperance Societies were not to 
drink when they were thirsty, but only, that 
when they join these Societies, they promise 
not to drink ardent spirit, by which I suppose 
they mean, rum, brandy, gin, and other intoxi- 
cating liquors." 

Mr. Newell. (< As you have answered your 
brother's question correctly, I will now reply 
more fully to yours. Temperance is a virtue of 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 7 

very extensive application, and implies not only 
that the bodily appetites are properly controlled, 
but that all the powers and affections of the 
mind are properly regulated. The truly tem- 
perate man desires to eat and drink just so 
much, as will fit him for the duties of life, — as 
will render his body strong and healthy, and 
his mind active and cheerful. His desires after 
any worldly good, are also moderate. He is 
patient under affliction, and submissive to all 
the dispensations of Providence. His constant 
desire and prayer is, that his Heavenly Father 
will give him just so much of the good things of 
this life, as will promote his spiritual welfare, 
and enable him to do the most good to others. 
You will perceive from what I have said, that 
the truly temperate man is a religious man; and, 
indeed, no other can be universally temperate. 
The Apostle Paul, calls temperance one of the 
fruits of the Spirit. 

" The body and mind are so intimately con- 
nected, that what disorders and debases the 
one, is always injurious to the other. This is 
particularly the case with that form of intemper- 
ance, which consists in the excessive use of 
ardent spirits. So prevalent and alarming has 
this evil become, that Societies have been 
formed for the special purpose of opposing it. 
These associations have taken the general name 



8 THE FAMILY 

of Temperance Societies, and with propriety, 
I think, for though their exertions are chiefly 
designed to promote a particular form of tem- 
perance, they will ultimately aid every other. 

"Both the general subject of temperance, 
and the branch of it which is now gaining so 
much attention, are of vast and incalculable 
importance. It needs much more time than 
I can spare this morning, to say all that I wish. 
I therefore intend, when other engagements 
permit, to devote Tuesday evening of every 
week, to conversing with you upon this subject. 
We will invite your mother and sister to join 
us, and will call our proposed exercise, a Fami- 
ly Temperance Meeting. 93 

Francis. "Thank you, dear papa. I now 
understand something about Temperance Soci- 
eties, and shall like very much to hear more on 
the subject." 

Henri/. " So shall I. But, papa, does ardent 
spirit, as Francis calls it, always hurt persons 
who use it?" 

Mr. Newell. i( Yes, my son ; when used in 
large quantities it hurts persons very much, 
producing a disease which is called drunken- 
ness ; and even when moderately taken, except 
in a few case's as a medicine, it does no good, 
and leads to many evil consequences. You are 
not old enough, and have not been placed in a 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 9 

situation, to see much of this evil ; but I fear 
that, young as you are, you have more than 
once seen a drunken man staggering through 
the streets, and followed by a crowd of unthink- 
ing boys." 

Henry. " O yes, papa. I have seen George 
Leman several times when the boys called him 
drunk. Francis turned away, and said it was 
wrong to laugh at him ; but he acted so droll, I 
could not help laughing, and all the other boys 
seemed pleased." 

Mr. Newell. " Francis was right, Henry ; it 
was very wicked to laugh at him. At some 
future time, I will give you the history of this 
unhappy man ; and then, I hope you will have 
no disposition to laugh at him, nor at any one, 
who is made wretched by his own misconduct. 
I am pleased, Francis, to learn that you did not 
join in the unfeeling mirth of your companions, 
and that you tried to repress it in your brother." 

Francis. " It always makes me so sad to 
see him, that I have no disposition to laugh." 

Mr. Newell. " I must now leave you, and it 
is near your school-hour. But next Tuesday, 
if Providence permits, I shall be ready to talk 
more with you, and to answer any inquiries, 
you may then have to make." 



10 THE FAMILY 



CHAPTER II. 

"The error is fast vanishing from multitudes of minds, that 
ardent spirit is necessary, for the labourer, to strengthen him ; 
for the man in health, to preserve his health ; for the sick 
man, to restore him ; or for the aged man, to renew his vigour." 

Tuesday evening was anxiously expected by 
Francis and Henry ; and scarcely less so by 
their sister Eliza, to whom they had communi- 
cated their father's plan. 

Eliza was the eldest child, and had nearly 
reached the age of thirteen. Francis was ten 
years old, and Henry not quite seven. 

It was now the latter part of November ; and 
while the weather was frequently cold and 
stormy without, these children found it very 
pleasant to sit by a cheerful fire, during the 
long evenings, and listen to the instructions of 
their dear parents. Mr. Newell's business fre- 
quently called him abroad, so that when he 
could pass a whole evening with them, they all 
considered it a rich treat. Mrs. Newell very 
seldom left home ; it was alike her duty and 
happiness to pass the most of her time in the 
bosom of her young family, ministering with a 
mother's devoted tenderness, to their comfort 
and improvement. 



TEMPERANCE MEETING, 11 

" It is Tuesday evening, papa ;" said Henry, 
as the family assembled around the tea-table ; 
" I hope you have no other engagement, for we 
are all very impatient to hear about temperance." 

Mr. Newell. " If you would be temperate, 
my son, you must be patient. Do you not 
remember that Francis told us patience was one 
of the definitions of temperance V 1 

Henry. " Yes, papa, but I had forgotten it." 

Mr, Newell. " Perhaps you will forget all 
that I tell you this evening, and then it will do 
you no good. To remember instruction, is the 
first step towards profiting by it." 

Henry. " 1 remembered, papa, not to laugh 
at George Leman, when I saw him drunk to-day. 
His clothes were torn, and he looked so pale 
and miserable, that I felt very sorry for him." 

Mr. Newell. " Poor fellow ; I fear he will 
become more miserable every day." 

The tea-things were shortly removed, and the 
work-table drawn towards the fire. At this, 
Mrs. Newell and Eliza were seated, and busily 
engaged with their needles. Henry occupied 
his accustomed place by his mother ; and Fran- 
cis, having placed his father's rocking-chair 
where he thought he would like to sit, took a 
vacant seat near it. All were still and attentive, 
and Mr. Newell just beginning to speak, when he 
was suddenly called out of the room on business. 



12 THE FAMILY 

This was a heavy disappointment to the chil- 
dren, especially, when their father stepped back 
and said, that he must go out for a short time, 
but would return as soon as he could. 

Henry quite forgot what he had heard at tea, 
and, with no very pleasant countenance, said, 
•' Mother, I wish no one had called for father this 
evening. Do you think he will be absent long?" 

Mrs. Newell. " I do not know, my dear. I 
trust he will return soon, but if other duties 
prevent, I hope we shall be able to pass our 
time pleasantly. I am sorry to see that you do 
not bear little disappointments better." 

Henry. " I had depended so much, mamma, 
on this evening, that I cannot help being disap- 
pointed, if papa does not return." 

Mrs. Newell. " What do you think, Francis? 
Must we all be unhappy, if your father should 
be detained contrary to our wishes ?" 

Francis. " I shall feel very sorry if papa is 
unable to fulfil his engagement with us ; but I 
know it is wrong to fret, and I have been think- 
ing that in order to be temperate, I must be 
moderate in my wishes, and patient when they 
are disappointed." 

Mrs. Newell " You are right, my son, and 
I am glad that you are disposed to make a 
practical use of what you learn." 

Footsteps were now heard approaching the 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 13 

house ; and before the ddor opened, Henry 
exclaimed, " Papa has come." 

As Mr. Newell entered his cheerful parlour, 
and surveyed the eager, animated countenances 
of his children, all waiting to receive instruction 
from his lips, — a prayer silently ascended from 
his heart, that the wisdom which is from above 
might direct him in all he should say. 

" O papa, how glad we are that you have 
returned," was Henry's delighted exclamation ; 
while the happy faces of the rest, showed that 
they fully shared his joy. 

Mr. Newell " I am always glad, my children, 
when I can pass a few hours with you ; and 
especially when I can direct your attention to 
some useful and interesting subject. 

"I do not wish to weary you at these meet- 
ings, by long discourses on the subject of tem- 
perance. I prefer that you should ask such 
questions as you wish, and either your mother 
or I will answer them. I shall state such facts 
as I think will be of use to you ; and, perhaps, 
read extracts occasionally from books or papers, 
which will illustrate the subject. I shall also 
relate several narratives of the evil effects of 
intemperance, which have come under my own 
observation, or which have been described to 
me by others. I wish the conversation to be 



14 



THE FAMILY 



general, and I hope we shall all be the better 
for our Family Temperance Meetings. 

" I suppose," addressing himself to the boys, 
" that you have both thought some, of what was 
said on this subject the other morning, If you 
wish to make any inquiries or remarks, I will 
now attend to them." 

Francis. " I did not know, papa, till you 
told Henry so, that ardent spirit was always 
hurtful. When I was at grandmamma's last 
winter, I saw uncle William drink it." 

Mr. Newell. " It has been the general opin- 
ion of temperate and respectable men till within 
a few years, that when taken in small quantities, 
it was useful, and in some cases almost indis- 
pensable to health and comfort. It was sup- 
posed necessary for persons who worked hard, 
to recruit their strength ; for such as were 
exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather, to 
keep them from taking cold ; and to the infirm 
and debilitated, to restore their appetite and 
health. But the recent testimony of physicians, 
together with the experience of large numbers, 
who in the several circumstances named, have 
abstained wholly from all stimulating drink, 
fully proves that this opinion was unfounded ; 
and that so far from being necessary in any 
case, except as medicine, ardent spirit is gen- 
erally, if not always hurtful. The number of 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 15 

persons convinced of this truth, is daily increas- 
ing ; still there are some, even of the friends of 
temperance, who adhere to their former opinion. 
Among this number is your uncle William. I 
trust, however, that his opinion will change, as 
mine has done, when he pays more attention to 
the subject. I was formerly in the habit of 
using ardent spirit myself, and of offering it to 
my friends ; but when I began to feel the respon- 
sibility of a parent, and reflected that my tem- 
perate use of this article, might lead to intem- 
perate habits in my children, I hesitated — 'and 
from the period of Henry's birth, renounced the 
use of it entirely. I have also excluded it from 
my family, except that a small quantity is usually 
kept in the medicine chest. Even that, as you 
all know, is very seldom used, and never, when 
I can find a less dangerous substitute. 

" Perhaps you, Eliza, can recollect when 
decanters of spirit used to stand on the side- 
board, and when your father and his friends occa- 
sionally partook of what was then considered a 
necessary article of hospitable entertainment !' ; 

Eliza. " Yes, papa. I remember one day 
when some gentlemen were here, that you gave 
them brandy and water. I was then a very 
little girl, but I saw you put sugar into the 
tumblers, and after you went out, I wanted to 
taste of what was left in the bottom. Mamma 



16 THE FAMILY 

said it was very improper for little girls ; but I 
was in the kitchen when Susan washed the 
tumblers, and I saw her drain all the sugar out, 
and drink it. I told her it was naughty, but 
she said there was no harm in it, and that she 
always did so. I told mamma, and she washed 
the glasses herself afterwards ; but I wondered 
that you should drink what it was wrong for 
Susan or me to taste of." 

Mr. Newell listened to this simple recital 
with much interest ; and while he sighed to 
think of the dangerous tendency of his former 
example, he blessed God that he had been 
enabled to renounce a practice, which threatened 
so much injury to his children and servants. 

Francis. " Do all physicians say that ardent 
spirit is injurious, papa ?" 

Mr. Newell " The most enlightened and 
able men among them, so far as I know, unite 
in giving this opinion. Nor have I heard of 
a single instance in which a respectable, tem- 
perate physician has decided that the habitual 
use of this article is conducive to health. 

" I have in my pocket a pamphlet received 
last evening from a friend in South Carolina, 
which contains very full and decisive testimony 
on this subject. It was proposed to form a 
Temperance Society in Columbia, of that State, 
and previous to doing it, a Committee was 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 17 

chosen to make inquiry as to the influence of 
ardent spirit on the health of persons using it. 
This Committee, in the Report which they 
submitted to the meeting, quoted the opinion of 
several Medical Societies, and of distinguished 
physicians in their own and other States. I will 
read to you a few extracts. 

"Dr. Ware of Boston, in an address before 
the Massachusetts Medical Society, in 1825, 
remarks, ' That no impression can be more 
unfounded, no opinion more fatally false, than 
that which attributes to spirituous liquors any 
power of promoting bodily strength, or support- 
ing the system under labour and fatigue ■ or 
that they are ever innocent, salutary or proper 
as a refreshment in a state of health.' 

" Dr. Bradford, in an address before the 
same society, produced the authority of an emi- 
nent physician in the British East Indies, ' That 
ardent spirits is never necessary, but always per- 
nicious to health in hot climates.' 

" The New-Hampshire Medical Society, at 
their meeting in 1827, gave it as their opinion, 
' that distilled spirit is never necessary, and gen- 
erally hurtful to persons in health, and that it af- 
fords no protection against contagious diseases/ 

" The Massachusetts Medical Society, at 
their annual meeting in 1827, passed the fol- 
lowing resolution : l Whereas there is reason to 



18 THE FAMILY 

believe, that the habitual and intemperate use of 
ardent spirits is often the consequence of an opin- 
ion, that such liquids contribute to the health of 
man. And whereas it seems to be a duty par- 
ticularly belonging to this Society, to oppose 
and correct so insidious an error : Therefore 
resolved, that in the opinion of this Society, the 
use of ardent spirits is not a source of strength 
and vigour, but that it is generally productive 
of weakness and disease/ 

" The Connecticut Medical Society, at a 
late meeting adopted the following resolution : 
' Resolved, That in the opinion of this conven- 
tion, ardent spirits have no tendency to protect 
the system from disease, but render it more 
susceptible of contagion, and other causes of 
disease, increases their violence, and renders 
them more fatal.' 

" The New- York Medical Society resolved, 
c That we will use our influence to correct the 
popular error that what is called a moderate use 
of ardent spirits, is conducive to health.' 

" The State Medical Society of New-Jersey, 
resolved that, ' We consider entire abstinence 
from the use of ardent spirits in any form, as 
the only safe-guard against its deleterious effects. 
Without such abstinence there can be no safety. 
— The occasional use of spirituous liquors has 
destroyed its tens of thousands. It is the rock 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 19 

around which the bones of millions have whiten- 
ed, a gulph from whose bourne no traveller 
returns, where fame, fortune, hope, health and 
life perish.' 

" One of the County Medical Societies of 
Connecticut resolved, ' That an entire absti- 
nence from ardent spirits is absolutely necessary 
to the enjoyment of sound health. That the 
moderate use of ardent spirits is the exclusive 
cause of many diseases ; and that a variety of 
others might be easily removed, if they were 
not rendered incurable from the same cause/ 

" To these explicit and overwhelming testi- 
monies from Northern physicians, the Com- 
mittee have added those of a number of distin- 
guished physicians in their own State. 

" I will read the opinions of two only. 

" Dr. Faust, of Columbia, says, ' The use of 
neither distilled nor other alcoholic liquids is 
ever necessary under any circumstances for the 
preservation of health in any climate? 

" Dr. Cox, of Sumter District, says, * Under 
no circumstances whatever, have I ever wit- 
nessed the habitual use of ardent spirits benefi- 
cial to health, but in every instance, I believe 
its effects have been more or less injurious.' 

" Extracts of letters from five or six other 
physicians of the same State are given in the 
Report. They all unite in a similar testimony. 



20 THE FAMILY 

" I have read these extracts not only to 
answer your question, Francis, but to impress 
on the minds of all my children, that this article, 
so dangerous in some cases, is necessary in 
none, except, as an occasional medicine ; and 
that then it should be used with great caution. 

" But it is time that our meeting closed, as 
the hour of family worship has arrived. " 

Henri/. " Why papa, it cannot be eight 
o'clock." 

Mr. Newell. " It wants but five minutes. 
Next week I hope we shall be able to resume 
the subject." 

The little boys, though they would have been 
glad to hear more, were still in a moment, as 
their father took down the large Bible ; while 
Mrs. Newell and Eliza having laid aside their 
work, the latter rang for the domestics. 

It was Mr. Newell's custom, whenever it was 
practicable, to have family prayer at this early 
hour, that the younger children might unite in 
it. They would have felt it quite a disappoint- 
ment to have retired to rest, without first hearing 
their father read and pray ; though even Henry 
felt that this family exercise would by no means 
excuse him for neglecting to pray in secret, to 
his Father -in Heaven. 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 21 



CHAPTER III. 

" Instances are frequently brought forward of sons carried 
to a premature grave, by drunkenness, which they first learned 
at the table of a sober father. 

"Let any father look at the son, who is the pride of his 
strength, and the joy of his heart ; and then, in imagination, 
follow that, son through all the successive scenes, until in his 
grey hairs he lays him in the drunkard's grave.— And then let 
him say, if the man who can brave this, cannot brave any thing.'* 

Journal of Humanity. 

The next Tuesday evening the children 
were again seated by their beloved parents, 
anxious to hear more about a subject which had 
deeply interested them. 

Henry. " Papa, I saw poor George again 
to-day ; he was so intoxicated he could not walk, 
and the boys threw him down and hurt him 
very much. I wish he would join a Temperance 
Society, and not drink rum any more !" 

Mr. Newell. " He has indulged in habits of 
intemperance so long, and the evil has become 
so confirmed, that it is not probable he will ever 
reform. Instances do sometimes occur of refor- 
mation, even when the habit has been of long 
standing, but they are comparatively few. Tem- 
perate Societies must be formed of temperate 
men ; of those who have never drank intoxicating 
liquors at. all, or who have discontinued their 
c* 



22 THE FAMILY 

use, from a conviction that they are unnecessary 
and injurious. The object of these Societies is 
not so much to reform the drunkard, though 
they will do that when they can, as to form 
habits of temperance in the young, and to per* 
petuate such habits in those who are now sober 
and respectable. 

" Various means have been tried to reform 
the intemperate, too frequently without success; 
though there is one simple remedy, which if 
tried, would in all cases effect a perfect cure. 
It is a remedy, however, which friends cannot 
apply without the consent of the patient, and 
few of this unhappy class are willing to use it." 
Francis. " What is the remedy, papa?" 
Mr. Newell. " To drink only cold water." 
Francis. " Is that all? Why I should think 
any body would be willing to try it. I am sure 
there is nothing tastes so good as clear cold 
water." 

Mr. Newell. " Persons always prefer this 
healthful and pleasant drink, who have not been 
used to any thing else. But those who have 
been habituated to intoxicating liquors, find it 
very hard to give them up. They create a 
thirst, which water at first, will not quench, and 
which pleads with insatiable cravings for the 
accustomed drink. And this, my children, is 
one reason why I wish you never to know the 



TEMPERANCE MEETING 23 

taste of ardent spirits. Continue to drink water, 
and other simple and nourishing liquids, such 
as milk, milk and water, &>c, and you will be 
safe." 

Francis. " I am sure, papa, I could never 
l love brandy. You know when I had a tooth 
extracted once, the doctor gave me some to hold 
iin my mouth. I spit it out very quickly, but 
my mouth and throat felt all on Jire." 

Mr. Newell " The taste of unmixed brandy, 
I believe is not pleasant to any persons, till use 
has reconciled them to it. Rum, gin, and 
whiskey are still more disagreeable; but by 
diluting them with water, and adding large 
quantities of sugar, they become so pleasant 
that even children will swallow them readily, 
and in time learn to love the taste of them when 
not sweetened." 

Henry. " I remember when I was at aunt 
Mary's last winter, she gave me some gin and 
sugar for a cold ; but I did not love it at all." 

Mr. Newell. " I hope you never will. In 
future, should any spirituous liquor be offered 
you as a medicine, when your parents are not 
present, you can say that your father does not 
like to have you take it." 

Eliza. " Is not ardent spirit sometimes nec- 
essary as a medicine, papa ?" 

Mr. Newell. " Physicians frequently find it 



24 THE FAMILY 

useful iii certain dangerous complaints, and 
sometimes when it is difficult to obtain a substi- 
tute. But it is too dangerous a medicine to be 
trusted in inexperienced hands ; and besides, a 
love for strong drink, terminating in incurable 
habits of drunkenness, has frequently resulted 
from the customary and continued use of it as 
medicine. 

" An able writer on this subject has remarked 
that ' Feeble health and mental depression are 
to be numbered among the occasions of intem- 
perance. The vital sinking, and muscular 
debility, and mental darkness are for a short 
time alleviated by the application of stimulants. 
But the cause of this momentary alleviation is 
applied and repeated, until the habit of excessive 
drinking is formed and has become irresistible.' " 

Henry. " You promised, papa, to give us 
the history of George Leman. When will you 
tell us about him '?" 

Mr. Newell. " I will begin the account this 
evening ; though the story is so painful, that I 
should not be willing to relate it, but for the 
hope that it may prove a warning to you, and 
to us all, never to indulge in the faults which 
have ruined this poor man. 

" Mr. Leman, the father of George, was a 
respectable merchant, and George his only son. 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 25 

Thirty years ago it was customary for almost 
all persons to use spirituous liquors. Mr. Leman 
followed the general practice, and drank of 
them freely, though I do not know that he was 
ever considered intemperate. By this, I mean 
that he was never intoxicated. A decanter 
iilled with brandy always stood on his side-board, 
and once or twice a day, in the intervals of 
business, he partook of the dangerous draught. 
His little son early learned to watch all his 
motions. As soon almost as he could go alone, 
when he saw his father raise the sparkling glass 
to his lips, he would say, ' Give Georgy some of 
papa's drink ; Georgy wants to taste.' Seldom 
was his request refused. A few drops would be 
left in the bottom of the tumbler, and more 
sugar added to render it pleasant. As he swal- 
lowed the intoxicating poison, his father with 
unthinking carelessness would ask, ' Is it good, 
Georgy V And the little creature with delighted 
eagerness would clap his hands, and say, - proper 
good, papa, Georgy loves it.' 

" Thus was a taste formed even in infancy, 
for what was to prove the bane of his future life. 
As he grew older, and continued daily to partake 
of this improper indulgence, his mother became 
alarmed ; particularly, as she thought that it 
.affected the temper of the child. After taking 
it, he would discover for a short time, even 



26 THE FAMILY 

more than the usual gaiety of childhood, and 
then would become heavy and stupid; after 
sleeping for an hour, he would awake fretful 
and discontented, unhappy himself, and the 
source of much trouble to others. His appetite 
also failed, and he would cry for ( papa's drink,' 
at other times, as well as when he saw it. 

" Mrs. Leman mentioned her apprehensions 
to her husband, but he laughed at them as fool- 
ish whims, and said the little spirit he gave the 
child could never injure him. The fears of the 
anxious mother were not, however, removed ; 
and she contrived, whenever it was possible, to 
keep George out of the way of the temptation, 
which his father's habits presented. 

" He was soon old enough to go to school. 
This materially aided his mother's plan, and 
for several years, her prudent precautions pre- 
served him almost entirely from temptation. He 
had not, however, forgotten the taste of what he 
once loved so well, and occasionally his father 
would treat him with part of a glass. He did 
this but seldom, and never in the presence of 
his wife, as he loved her tenderly, and was 
unwilling to excite, even what he considered, 
her unreasonable fears. 

" When George had reached the age of three 
years, a little sister was born, who soon became 
old enough to play with him. The children 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 27 

were very happy in each other ; and their parents 
rejoiced in the hope that they would grow up to 
be the comfort of their declining years, and 
that when they were obliged to leave them, 
George would be the protector and friend of the 
little Maria. He was indeed a lovely, and at 
this period, an interesting and promising child. 
Could you have seen him leading his little sister 
to school, carefully guarding her from danger, 
and always speaking kindly to her, and have 
seen how fond she was of him, and how atten- 
tive to all he said, — you would have thought 
that this brother and sister were indeed to prove 
blessings to each other. Towards Maria r 
George was almost uniformly mild and affec- 
tionate, though his temper was naturally quick, 
and in his intercourse with others, he was 
sometimes angry and passionate. His excellent 
mother had taken great pains to correct this 
fault. She had taught him the guilt of anger ; 
had made him acquainted with those passages 
of Scripture which condemn it ; and had prayed 
with, and for him, that his hasty passions might 
be subdued, and that he might become a gentle, 
humble, and pious child. She hoped that her 
endeavours were not without success.— She 
thought that she perceived evidence of improve- 
ment in her darling boy, and with a parent's 
partial fondness, ventured to look forward to 



28 THE FAMILY 

the time, when he would become all that she 
wished. 

" Years passed on, and George became too 
large to go to the same school with his sister ; 
he was, therefore, removed to one at the distance 
of half a mile from his father's house. In his- 
way to, and from school, he had to pass a small' 
shop, where fruits, confectionary, and other 
similar articles were sold. His father furnished 
him with a liberal allowance of pocket-money,, 
and with the other boys he frequently called to 
purchase some of the tempting articles displayed' 
at the windows. For a year or two, this habit 
was attended with no greater evil, than that of 
spending money unnecessarily, and of sometimes 
injuring his health by excessive indulgence of 
his appetite. For fruit and sweat-meats, how- 
ever good in their place, are very injurious 
when children eat too much of them. 

" The woman who kept this shop was wholly 
unprincipled ; anxious only to make money, and 
quite careless of the consequences to others. 
As the boys were frequently thirsty, and asked 
for water, she thought it would be well to prd- 
cure some liquors which she could sell them, 
and thus increase her profits. Had she obtained 
milk, or any other innocent and wholesome 
liquid, it might have been well ; but instead of 
this, she supplied herself with wine and cordials, 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 29 

and offered them to her unsuspecting and 
thoughtless customers. It is true that she 
diluted these liquors so much, that the boys 
were not made drunk, by partaking of them, 
but still they were much injured. 

" George was among the number who most 
frequently called for drink ; and he always pre- 
ferred the strongest kind. The woman did not 
let them have enough at once to excite the 
suspicions of their parents ; and she encouraged 
them after drinking, to eat fruit and other arti- 
cles, which she thought would prevent the 
effects of the liquor. 

" George soon found that his customary sup- 
ply of pocket-money was insufficient to meet 
this additional expense ; but he was unwilling 
to ask his father for more, lest he should inquire 
what he did with it. He therefore followed the 
example of some of his companions in getting 
trusted for a few weeks, in the hope that a 
present from some of his friends would relieve 
him from embarrassment. 

" There was soon an evident alteration in 
his conduct. He was less studious at school, 
and less kind and pleasant at home, than he had 
been. Even to his mother and sister he was 
less affectionate. For a long time the cause 
was unknown ; but as Mrs. Leman was one day 
passing the street which led to the school, she 

D 



30 THE FAMILY 

heard George engaged in angry debate with the 
mistress of the shop. She walked slowly by, 
and heard the woman say, ' Young gentleman, I 
cannot wait for my money any longer. If you 
do not find means to pay me, I must send to 
your parents.' George replied, ' I have told 
you that I will pay all that I owe you, with the 
first money I can get. But I am sure you have 
cheated me ; I never had so much wine and 
cordial as you have charged. 5 

" On hearing this, Mrs. Leman was at first 
horror-struck ; and her trembling limbs almost 
refused to support her. As soon as she was 
sufficiently recovered, she went into the shop, 
and looking more sternly at the misguided son 
than she had ever before done, she said, ' Go 
instantly to school, George : what debts you 
have contracted, I will settle ; but I command 
you never to enter this shop again. ? George 
was much abashed at this unexpected address, 
and for almost the first time, glad to escape 
from his mother's presence. 

" After he had gone, Mrs. Leman remon- 
strated with the woman, on the cruelty of 
tempting such boys, to the love of strong drink ; 
and threatened to have her complained of, if she 
persisted in her unlawful course. 

" Having paid the debt which George had 
contracted, his mother returned with a heavy 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 31 

heart to her own dwelling. Mr. Leman was at 
home, and perceiving that she was in trouble, 
tenderly inquired the cause. She told him 
what she had seen and heard, and the fears 
she indulged that their beloved boy might 
already have formed a habit, which would ter- 
minate in his ruin. Mr. Leman, who considered 
her fears excessive, sought with much kindness 
to remove them ; but he was angry with George 
for getting in debt, a practice which he had 
always strictly forbidden. 

" When George returned from school, his 
father severely reprimanded him for his impru- 
dence and disobedience ; and not only forbade 
his incurring any farther debts, but told him 
that he should require a strict account in future, 
of the use which he made of his weekly allow- 
ance. 

" George listened for some time in silence ; 
but when his father mentioned the improper 
character of some of the articles he had pur- 
chased, he said, 'Is it wrong, sir, to drink 
wine or cordial, when any one is tired and 
thirsty ? The woman who keeps the shop, 
said it was the best thing in the world for 
fatigue ; and I have heard you urge visiters to 
take it, and say it would do them good.' 

"' I do not say,' Mr. Leman replied, ' that it 
is wrong at proper times to partake of these 



32 THE FAMILY 

liquors. You know very well that I drink of 
them myself, and occasionally allow you to do 
it ; but they are dangerous when drank to 
excess, and you are not old enough to know 
how much is proper for you. I forgive you now, 
only on the condition that you frequent that 
shop no more, and take no strong liquors, 
except in your mother's presence, or mine.' 

" George promised to comply with this con- 
dition, and his father appeared satisfied : but 
not so his mother. She feared that an appetite 
indulged so long, would not easily be conquered, 
and she knew the temptations, which would 
beset him as he grew older. 

" But here, my children, I must stop for the 
present, as there will not be time to finish the 
narrative, this evening." 

The children, who had listened with much 
interest, would have been glad to hear the 
remainder of the story then ; but they were 
satisfied that their father knew best, and thus 
waited patiently for the next evening. 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 33 



CHAPTER IV. 



-It was her only son — 



And she forgot the errors of his life, 

And thought alone of what was lovely. 

She thought of him, the infant in her lap, 

And heard his artless prattle — and she saw 

The sunny ringlets as they sportive played 

O'er his bright brow in childhood's summer hours. 

She thought how fondly she had loved to dwell 

Upon the opening manhood of her child, 

And of the hopes a mother only knows. 

She thought of these, and wept. " 

u Oh ! if there be within the human heart 

A feeling stronger than all else beside, 
It is the love that warms a mother's breast, 
Even for a sinning child — the only tie 
That death alone can sever, and is felt 
Till the last throb of feeling is at rest." 

Before the arrival of Tuesday evening, Mrs. 
Harding, a sister of Mr. Leman's, with her 
husband, and infant child, came to pass a few 
days with her brother's family. The children 
were much pleased with the babe, and fond of 
the company of their uncle and aunt ; but they 
feared it would prevent them for one week, at 
least, from hearing the conclusion of poor Le- 
man's story. They were agreeably surprised, 
therefore, when the season came for their usual 
meeting, to hear their father mention to his 
friends, the manner in which he was accustomed 



34 THE FAMILY 

to spend the evening, and invite them to join 
the Family Meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Harding 
readily complied, and Mr. Newell having briefly 
stated the events in the early life of Leman, 
proceeded with the melancholy history. 

" For a few years after the difficulty at the 
shop, all appeared to go on pretty well. Mrs. 
Leman had talked very seriously with her son 
on the danger of forming intemperate habits ; 
and from love to her, he had promised to refrain 
from tasting any intoxicating liquor. But he 
was not convinced that the habit was wrong ; 
he thought if it were wrong, his father, and 
others whom he respected, would not indulge 
in it. 

" At the age of sixteen he entered College. 
His father cautioned him in general terms, 
against forming habits of dissipation. ' I do 
not wish you,' he said, ' to abstain wholly 
from the use of wine, nor as you grow older, 
from stronger liquors ; but be careful to drink 
temperately. Frequent such company as is 
suitable to your age and standing, but avoid 
late hours, and excess of every kind. Be dili- 
gent in your studies, and see that in all your 
deportment you preserve the character of a 
discreet, sober, and virtuous young man.' 

" George very readily promised compliance 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 35 

with his father's wishes ; but he dreaded the 
parting interview with his mother, fearing that 
she would require some promise of him, that he 
should be unwilling to perform. She did not 
require any promise ; but after many parting 
admonitions, with a voice almost choked by 
weeping, she begged him, as he valued his fu- 
ture character, as he regarded his parents' and 
sister's happiness, as he hoped for usefulness in 
life, or preparation for death, to avoid ardent 
spirits, as he would the plague. 

" ' Dear mother,' he replied, ' why are you 
so anxious about me 1 I hope you do not think 
that I shall ever be a drunkard.' 

" ' I believe, George,' she said solemnly, 
( that your only safety lies in total abstinence, 
and as you value your mother's peace, I again 
entreat you to refrain entirely.' 

" e Mother,' he replied, ( I will never do any 
thing to make you unhappy. Depend upon it, 
you will always hear good accounts of rae.' 

" ' I hope so, George,' was the reply, < but I 
know you are rash and inconsiderate, and that 
the path on which you are entering, abounds 
with temptations. You will meet many dissi- 
pated young me^, who will urge you to join in 
all their excesses. But I rely on your assertion, 
that you will not give pain to your mother. God 
bless you, my son, and preserve you from all 
evil' 



86 THE FAMILY 

H George was much affected, and had his 
father united in this advice, in all probability 
he would have complied with it. 

" His parting with his sister was very affec- 
tionate, but painful on both sides. He prom- 
ised to write frequently, and said the vacation 
would come soon, and then their meeting would 
be the happier for the temporary separation. 

" During the first year, George continued a 
very frequent correspondence with his friends 
at home. When he returned to them, at the 
close of that period, his father and sister were 
much pleased with his improved and manly ap- 
pearance. His mother rejoiced not less in all 
that was pleasing in her beloved boy ; but her 
fears were excited when on questioning him as 
to his habits, he said, ' Mother, what you re- 
quired of me, I have found impossible. I must 
do, as the other young men do ; but you may 
depend on my continuing temperate. I know 
how much I can bear, and will drink no more ; 
but total abstinence is out of the question. ' 

" It was in vain that his mother remonstrated, 
in vain that she told him of others whose feet 
had once stood as firm as his, and who relied 
on their own resolutions to preserve them. She 
cautioned him against evil companions, but he 
regarded those only as evil, who were degraded 
and abandoned ; who, lost to all sense of shame, 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 37 

were drinking iniquity like ivater. He associa- 
ted with such as were considered young men of 
spirit and enterprise. Their social meetings 
were frequent, and always enlivened by wine or 
brandy. George was the life of their parties. 
His fine talents, and open, generous disposition 
made him the idol of every one. His compan- 
ions flattered his vanity, and praised his gene- 
rosity ; and in return, his well furnished purse 
frequently supplied their necessities. 

" He was at first, a hard student, but late 
hours, and convivial parties, sensibly impaired 
his health. In the morning he felt languid and 
nervous, unfit for study, and yet sensible, that 
renewed exertions were necessary in order to 
keep up with his class. To restore his exhaust- 
ed strength and spirits, he had recourse to the 
morning bitters, which had been recommended 
as an invaluable specific. For a time, this pro- 
duced some effect. The momentary exhilara- 
tion which it occasioned, enabled him to attend 
to study ; but soon his disorder increased, his 
appetite failed, and a sense of exhaustion so 
extreme, that it threatened the very extinction 
of life, was felt after a few hours close applica- 
tion. Hitherto he had taken the exhilarating 
draught only at the evening party, or in the 
morning, to produce an appetite for food ; but 
now he resorted to it several times in the course 



38 THE FAMILY 

of the day ; and while the excitement which it 
occasioned, lasted, he felt better — but the mo- 
ment that was over, he was again wretched and 
exhausted. In this state, he returned to his pa- 
rents, at the end of the second year. 

" They were alarmed at his appearance, and 
called a physician, who pronounced his disease 
to be dyspepsia, and recommended moderate 
exercise, and a strict attention to diet. From 
motives of delicacy, the doctor forbore to add, 
that ardent spirits had been the principal cause 
of the disorder, and must be wholly abstained 
from. 

" Under the tender and watchful, care of his 
mother, however, George was in some measure 
kept from temptation. Every little delicacy was 
provided that the physician thought good for 
him ; in this way his appetite was partially re- 
stored to simple and nourishing food ; in his 
walks and rides, either his mother or sister con- 
stantly accompanied him ; while at home, cheer- 
ful conversation and amusing books beguiled 
him of weariness, and prevented his resorting to 
the accustomed draught. In the evening, how- 
ever, Mrs. Leman could not always prevent it, 
as his father, urged by mistaken kindness, 
thought a little wine, or cordial, or brandy and 
water, would then be good for him. 

■' In the course of a few months, his health 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 39 

was so far restored, that he was able to return to 
College, while the habits of comparative tempe- 
rance he had acquired, gave a new tone of elas- 
ticity to his mind, which enabled him to pursue 
his studies with interest and success. 

" He had derived much benefit from exercise 
while at home, and determined, whatever else 
he neglected, to attend to that. 

" In a short time he was assailed by his for- 
mer companions. He yielded to their solicita- 
tions, and habits of dissipation were agaki estab- 
lished ; but, by paying strict attention to exer- 
cise, his health suffered less than it had former- 
ly done. 

" Previous to his late sickness, he had never 
been actually intoxicated, but now he seldom 
retired to rest wholly sober. His standing as a 
scholar, sensibly declined, his reputation suffer- 
ed, he felt that he had no longer the respect of 
the virtuous, and it now became his only ambi- 
tion to be the leader of the gay and dissipated 
circle he associated with. His tutor remonstra- 
ted with him, but remonstrance was vain. To 
drown conscience, and to get rid of reflection, 
to forget, if possible, his mother's warnings, 
which haunted him in every sober moment, was 
now his only aim. And so well did he succeed, 
that he was soon known as one of the most dis- 
sipated among the students. 



40 THE FAMILY 

" For some gross act of misconduct, he was 
expelled from College, and returned, ashamed, 
but not penitent, to his father's house. 

" Great was the anguish of his fond mother ; 
it was an affliction that she had long feared, but 
still she was not ready to meet it. Yet she had 
some hope that this season of shame and mor- 
tification might be of service to him. She was 
glad to have him removed from the temptations 
which had proved so fatal, and placed under her 
own eye, and that of his father. But the ill- 
judged severity of the latter, defeated all her 
hopes. George had been the darling object of 
his affection, and instead of returning as he had 
hoped, covered with the honours of college, and 
prepared to be a successful candidate for one of 
the learned professions, — to see him dishonoured 
and degraded, the shame and grief of his family, 
and the scorn of those who were once his infe- 
riors, was more than he could bear. 

After several angry interviews, during which, 
George showed no signs either of penitence or 
submission, his father banished him from the 
house. This was a heart-rending stroke to Mrs. 
Leman ; but in vain she sought either to soften 
her husband's resentment, or to bring George 
to a right state of feeling. At her earnest re- 
quest, he promised to go to his Uncle's, and to 
her brother she wrote, begging that he would 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 41 

receive him. Mr. Osborne, the uncle of George, 
was the clergyman of a village about thirty miles 
distant. He felt much for his sister's affliction, 
and readily consented to receive his nephew, 
till his father's anger should subside. But all 
his affectionate and pious admonitions were 
lost upon George. He soon formed an acquaint- 
ance with the idle and dissipated youth of the 
place, and continued his ruinous course, till he 
heard that his father had died suddenly of an 
apoplexy, hastened, it was thought, if not wholly 
occasioned, by grief at his son's misconduct. 

" At his mother's request, George instantly 
returned, but not to be a comfort to her, — -not 
to add to the happiness of his once loved sister. 

" Mr. Leman had left his property at his wife's 
disposal during her life, so that George was 
wholly dependent on her ; and when sober, he 
was still kind and respectful ; but in those fits 
of drunkenness which now became frequent, he 
would ill treat and abuse the parent who loved 
him as she did her own soul. Nor did his gen- 
tle sister meet with kinder treatment from the 
brother, who had once been her friend and 
protector. 

" Maria's health had always been delicate, 
and the shock occasioned by her brother's ex- 
pulsion from College, his subsequent ill conduct 5 
and her father's sudden death, threatened to 

E 



42 THE FAMILY 

crush her feeble frame. She still loved George 
with the pure and ardent affection of a sister ; 
she sought to excuse his faults, and to comfort 
her mother with the hope that he might yet re- 
form. But when day after day he became more 
intemperate,—- when she saw every thing that 
had been lovely, and generous, and affectionate 
in him, withering under the influence of strong 
drink, — when she heard him use the language 
of invective and reproach to her beloved moth- 
er, — when she saw him, in a fit of intoxication, 
lift his hand against that revered parent — her 
already shattered constitution gave way, and 
she sunk in a rapid consumption. 

" In his lucid moments, George would stand 
by her couch, and gaze with anguish on her 
pale countenance, and emaciated form ; but as 
her meek and tearful eye was lifted to his face, 
pleading with silent eloquence, even when she 
could not trust her voice to speak, that he would 
have pity on himself, and on their mother — he 
would turn away, and to escape the agony of 
thought, would again seek the intoxicating cup. 
" Mrs. Leman was wonderfully supported 
through this scene of trial. She had placed 
her hope in the Lord, and He never forsakes 
those who trust in Him. With untiring assidui- 
ty, she was enabled to watch by the bed of her 
expiring child ; and when at last she closed her 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 



43 



eyes, to rejoice that there was hope in her death. 
For though Maria died young, it was not till 
she had given evidence of having entered on 
that straight and narrow path, which leads to 
eternal life. She had remembered her Creator 
in the days of her youthful gaiety, — had trusted 
in her Saviour ; — and when she walked through 
the dark ' valley of the shadow of death,' she 
was not afraid, for ' He was with her — His rod 
and His staff comforted her.' 

" After the remains of Maria were committed 
to the tomb, George became more abandoned 
than ever. It was in vain that his mother 
sought by every kind and gentle method to lead 
him to reflection, to repentance, and reforma- 
tion ; he resisted all her entreaties, and was 
alone with her as seldom as possible. 

" Only mothers can tell l what this devoted 
parent suffered at witnessing the blight of all 
her hopes ; but though she suffered with the 
submission of a Christian, and no murmur was 
heard to escape from her lips, the powers of 
nature sunk under the agony she endured, and 
it was evident to her friends, that she was fast 
following Maria to the tomb. George saw it 
too, but when capable of reflection, he shut his 
eyes to the painful truth ; and when intoxicated, 
he could even rejoice in the prospect of her 
death, for he thought the property would then 



44 THE FAMILY 

be his. He knew the strength of a mother's 
love is such, that no degree of unworthiness can 
extinguish it. But though such was Mrs. Le- 
man's love, she felt that it would be no mark of 
affection to put into her son's hands the means 
of hastening his own ruin. She, therefore, re- 
joiced that the will of her husband had provided 
that at her decease, the property should go to 
her brother, in trust for George. The will 
directed that he should have the whole, if he 
behaved well ; otherwise only enough to feed 
and clothe him. 

" When he found that his mother was actu« 
ally dead, and the painful truth forced itself 
upon him, that he had killed her y — when he 
remembered that his sister was also destroyed 
by him, and probably also his father, — reason 
sunk under the shock, and for several years he 
was the inmate of an insane hospital. At length 
his reason was partially restored, but the brilliant 
powers of mind, which he once possessed, were 
obscured and darkened. 

" His uncle kept him for a time with him ; 
but his irregular habits were so unsuited to a 
clergyman's family, that for several years he has 
boarded him in this village, with a woman who 
was his nurse when an infant, and who loves 
him better than any one else. She does all 
that she can to restrain his excesses ; but his 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 45 

passions are so violent when opposed, that she 
cannot wholly prevent him from going out ; and 
when he does go, though he has seldom any 
money to purchase drink, he frequently meets 
with those abandoned enough to minister to 
his appetite, though they see the ruin it has 
wrought. 

" Thus, my children, I have given you the 
sad history of this wretched man. I do not say 
that all his subsequent guilt and misery were 
caused by his imbibing a taste for spirituous 
liquors when a child ; but I think there can be 
no doubt that this was an important link in the 
chain of circumstances, which led to his ruin. 
Had his father's example been that of entire 
abstinence, — had his instructions coincided 
with those of his mother, urging him to ' touch 
not, taste not, handle not 7 the intoxicating cup 
—he might have early formed habits of temper- 
ance, and by the grace of God, have successfully 
resisted the temptations which afterwards beset 
him. 

" For most of the facts which I have stated, 
I am indebted to a lady who resided many years 
in Mr. Leman's family. By her I was informed, 
that when on the expulsion of George from 
College, his father upbraided him for his intem- 
perance, he replied with a smile of bitterness, 
6 1 learned it, sir, from you. It was your hand 



46 THE FAMILY 

that first put the glass to my lips, and that made 
it pleasant to my infant taste: from you I 
learned that it was good ; and can you blame 
me for continuing a habit which your own 
example formed V " 

Mrs. Neivdl. " Did this have any effect on 
his father ?" 

Mr. Newell. " It deeply wounded him at the 
moment, but it had no effect on his practice of 
temperate drinking ; this he continued to the 
last. Indeed, his physician said, that this habit 
predisposed him to the disorder of which he 
died ; though it was undoubtedly hastened by 
his grief and anger at the ill conduct of George." 

Mr, Newell's children had been deeply af- 
fected while listening to this melancholy story. 
Neither of them spoke for some time after he 
had concluded it. At length Francis said, 
" Papa, which do you think "was the most to 
blame, Mr. Leman, or George?" 

Mr. Newell. "It is not for me, my son, to 
apportion their guilt. I certainly think Mr. 
Leman was answerable for placing temptation 
in the way of his child. But this furnishes no 
excuse for George ; he was not obliged to yield 
to it. When a little child, he knew no better ; 
but as he grew older, and his conscience was 
informed, he knew it was wrong, and might 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 47 

have resisted. Had his heart been free from 
sin, he would have done so. 

" I wish you ever to bear in mind, my chil- 
dren, that it is owing to the deep depravity of 
the human heart, that the vice of intemperance 
prevails, — that it makes such fearful inroads on 
the happiness of families and individuals, and 
the peace and good order of society. If this 
were a world of pure and holy beings, though 
the spirits of darkness might proffer them the 
intoxicating cup, it would be uniformly refused. 

" But while parents are conscious that the 
hearts of their children are depraved, they 
should certainly be cautious of placing tempta- 
tion in their way. 

" The subject has been so interesting, that 
our meeting has continued beyond the usual 
hour ; we must now close it.' 5 

When prayer was over and the younger 
children had withdrawn, Mr. Harding seemed 
desirous to continue the conversation. He re- 
marked that he had never before felt a parent's 
responsibility so deeply. " I had never thought" 
he continued, as he took his child from its 
mother's arms, " that if I were to indulge in 
what is called the temperate use of ardent spir- 
its, it might be the means of ruining this dear 
boy." 



48 THE FAMILY 

Mr. Newell. " I was much struck with a few 
sentences, on the example of parents, which I 
once read from an Address on the Effects of 
Education." 

Mr. Harding. " Do you recollect them?" 

Mr. Newell "I can probably find the book." 
As he said this, Mr. N — left the room, but 
soon returned with a pamphlet in his hand. 
" I could wish," he said, '*' that this address was 
in the hands of every parent, and especially the 
following sentences. 

c In domestic life, the parent of a family will 
have an eye to the example which he sets before 
his children. He may, for instance, feel, as he 
lifts the cup of spirit to his lips, that he indeed 
has moral courage sufficient to resist the tempta- 
tion of taking too deep a draught; — that his 
reason will never be drowned in the flood of 
intemperance : but when he beholds his children 
looking at him as he sips the welcome draught ; 
— when he reflects also, that, ere long, they too 
may justly claim the privilege of following the 
example he is now setting them, — a privilege 
which he can never justly withhold, after he has 
constantly enjoyed it in their presence ; — when 
he reflects on these things, he will stop, as he 
raises the bowl to his lips ; — he will remember 
that he is a father ; — he will think of the tempta- 
tions to which his babes will be necessarily 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 49 

exposed, in this world, without adding to them 
those which originate in his own example ; — he 
will desist from the gratification of his desire ; — 
he will sacrifice his own passions, however 
strong, upon the altar of his children's safety.' 

Mr. Harding. " From this moment, I re- 
solve, by Divine help, never to place this tempta- 
tion before my child. I thank you, dear brother, 
for directing my attention to this subject ; and 
I bless God, that our visit was made at this 
time." 

Though Mrs. Harding was silent, the tear of 
gratitude which trembled in her eye, as her 
husband made this remark, told, that she too 
was thankful 



50 THE FAMILY 



CHAPTER IV. 

"Could I call around me in one vast assembly the temperate 
young men of our land, I would say, Hopes of the nation, blessed 
be ye of the Lord, now in the dew of your youth. But look well 
to your footsteps : — look at the generation who have just preceded 
you : — the morning of their life was cloudless, and it dawned as 
brightly as your own — but behold them enfeebled, inflamed, 
debauched, idle, poor, irreligious, and vicious,— with halting 
step dragging onward to meet an early grave ! Their bright 
prospeets are clouded, and their sun is set, never to rise. — — 

" And is this, beloved young men, the history of your course ? — 
Yes — bright as your morning now opens, and high as your hopes 
beat, this is your noon, and your night, unless you shun those 
habits of intemperance which have thus early made theirs a day 
of clouds, and of thick darkness." — Dr. Beecher. 

The next evening of the accustomed meeting 
Henry was much alarmed at seeing his father, 
after tea, take his hat and cloak, as if preparing 
for a walk. " Papa," he said, iC it is our Tem- 
perance Meeting to-night." 

Mr. Newell. " I know it, my son, but am 
obliged to go out for a short time. I shall try 
to be back soon, and in the mean time, your 
mother will answer your questions." 

Mr. Newell had no sooner gone, than the 
children availed themselves of his permission, 
to seek information from their mother, on a 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 51 

subject, which was always uppermost in their 
thoughts, on Tuesday evening. 

" Mother," says Eliza, " papa has mentioned 
Temperance Societies several times. How long 
is it since such Societies began to be formed ?" 

Mrs. Newell. " It is more than three years, 
my dear, since the ' American Society for the 
Promotion of Temperance' was formed. Most 
of the Temperance Societies in the United 
States are now auxiliary to that. I do not 
know the exact number, but there are probably 
over a thousand." 

Eliza. " Was the American Temperance 
Society the first ever formed V 

Mrs. Newell. " I believe it was the first, 
bearing the definite name of Temperance Society; 
but there were several Associations previously 
in existence, whose object was essentially the 
same. * The Massachusetts Society for the 
Suppression of Intemperance ' was formed, if I 
mistake not, in 1812, and has doubtless done 
much to diffuse correct views of the nature and 
extent of the evil, and of the means of suppress- 
ing it. 

" The attention of benevolent individuals was 
also called to the subject many years since. 
Several distinguished men wrote upon it, and 
sought in various ways to enlighten the public 
mind ; and with no small degree of success, 



52 THE FAMILY 

i Dr. Beecher's Sermons, 5 ' Mr. Kittredge ? s Ad* 
dresses/ several publications of the American 
Tract Society, and other valuable books have 
been widely circulated, and read by vast num- 
bers who had been in the habit of using ardent 
spirits. Thinking men, in almost every part of 
our country, were led to reflect on the subject, 
and in many places they were prepared to act 
promptly, and decidedly, as soon as a union 
could be effected on some general principle. 
But your father, I perceive, is returning, and 
will give you much more information on this 
subject, than I can." 

As Mr. Newell took his seat by the fire, his 
wife mentioned the remarks that had been 
made, and requested him to state more definitely, 
the reasons which led to the formation of the 
" American Society for the promotion of Tem- 
perance." 

Mr. Newell. " In order to do this, I must 
first sketch the history of Intemperance. 

" When ardent spirit first came into use, it 
was regarded as a valuable medicine, and 
sparingly used. After a time it began to be 
considered a luxury for the healthy, as well as 
a cordial for the sick ; but like other luxuries, 
it was expensive, and drank only by the rich, 
or if by persons in the middling walks of life, 
only on extraordinary occasions. These occa- 



TEMPERANCE MEETING, 53 

sions soon multiplied ; vast quantities of intoxi- 
cating liquors were imported, the price became 
less, and the use of them very general. Then, 
distilleries were set up in our own country, 
which manufactured such immense quantities 
of liquid poison, that the whole land was almost 
literally inundated. Like eruptions from a 
volcanic mountain, these distilleries poured out 
innumerable streams of fiery liquid, which spread 
devastation and ruin over our once happy 
country. 

" The progress of this evil was, however, so 
silent and gradual, that for some time but little 
alarm was felt. Could all the misery which it 
produced have been presented at one view to 
the minds of any considerate community, they 
would have been struck with horror, and have 
banished it at once from among them. But 
the destruction was accomplished gradually — 
the evil was scattered over the whole extent of 
our country. In every town were some victims 
of the destroyer ; — deaths were yearly occurring 
through the influence of strong drink, but these 
were frequently attributed to fever or consump- 
tion ; — families were reduced to poverty, but 
the cause of their wretchedness was not always 
known ; — wives were broken-hearted, but they 
concealed, when possible, their husbands' shame, 

" In the mean time, the cheapness and uni- 

F 



54 THE FAMILY 

versal plenty of distilled spirits every day in* 
creased its use ; there was scarcely a family 
which did not consider it a necessary article of 
housekeeping. To use the language of another, 
6 It was the fashion of the times to drink. 
Drinking was the mark of hospitality, the test 
of friendship, the passport to respectable society. 
It was the watch-word and countersign to all 
public, private, and social meetings. It was 
the business of celebrations, of musters, of 
dinner parties, of all public exhibitions, of 
friendly visits ; in fine, of all occasions.' 

" As might have been expected, the general 
use of so dangerous an article, in hundreds and 
thousands of instances led to habits of intem- 
perance. 

" Young men early learned to drink ardent 
spirits, without suspecting that it was improper. 
They believed that it was necessary to strengthen 
them for labour, to add to the enjoyment of 
social parties, and to recruit their wasted spirits 
when alone. Soon, in one, and another of their 
number, the symptoms of intemperance appear- 
ed. Their property decreased, — their health 
was impaired, — their reputation gone — before 
they began to suspect there was danger. Such 
instances rapidly multiplied; intemperance 
spread like a contagious disease from one 
extremity of our country to the other, till the 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 55 

attention of wise and considerate men was at- 
tracted to the evil. Christians, patriots, and 
philanthropists awoke to the danger ; — sermons 
were preached, pamphlets were circulated, soci- 
eties for the reformation of morals were formed, 
and other measures were taken to call public 
attention to the subject. 

" At first, the reformation seemed slow, 
while opposition was mighty and powerful ; 
but the cause of temperance was silently advanc- 
ing. One reflecting man after another was 
inquiring as to his own personal duty, — and 
many, who had used ardent spirits temperately, 
as it was called, resolved to give up such use 
entirely. After the experiment of a year or 
two, these persons could testify, that their 
health was better, their minds clearer, and their 
happiness and usefulness much increased by 
the disuse of an article, which they now found, 
they could do better without. 

" After these preparatory measures had been 
several years in operation, in the early part of 
the year 1826 the c American Society for the 
Promotion of Temperance ■ was formed. State, 
County, and Town Societies were soon after 
organized. I believe, there is not now a State 
in the Union, where one or more of these socie- 
ties does not exist ; while in many parts of 
New England, there is scarcely a town or village. 



56 THE FAMILY 

where a Temperance Society is not formed, or 
forming." 

Francis. " Why is there not one here, papa f\ 

Mr. Newell. " Intemperance has prevailed 
less in this village than in many other places ; 
so that we have felt the evil less, and done less 
for its suppression. I think, however, that a 
Society will be formed soon. Mr. Ellerton 
spoke to me about it to-day. He intends ap- 
pointing a Temperance Meeting, and stating 
some facts which will probably excite the atten- 
tion of his people to the subject. 

" I have spoken of the general evils which 
resulted from intemperance in the ruin of once 
active and promising young men : but if I were 
to bring an individual instance before you, it 
would make a deeper impression on your minds. 
I recollect a case which affected me much, and 
all the particulars of which came under my 
own observation." 

Henri/. " O do tell us, papa, I like to hear 
stories." 

Mr. Newell. " When a youth at school, I 
became acquainted with Henry Atherton. His 
parents were respectable, but not wealthy. In- 
dustrious, temperate, and frugal, they were 
enabled to provide for the wants of a large 
family, and to give their children a good educa- 
tion ; but they worked hard to do this ; and 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 57 

Henry being the eldest son, was anxious to do 
something by which he could support himself, 
and aid the family ; but he knew that his first 
duty was to prepare himself for future useful- 
ness ; and in order to do this, he studied hard, 
and was usually the foremost in his class. He 
was distinguished among his school fellows, for 
a noble and generous spirit. To aid the weak, 
to help the oppressed, and to promote the com- 
fort of all, were services in which he delighted, 

" At the age of fifteen, a friend of his father's 
offered him a situation in a ship about sailing 
for India : and promised that he should be well 
instructed in navigation. His parents were 
unwilling to part with him, but they knew the 
situation would be, on many accounts, eligible ; 
and IJenry had early manifested a predilection 
for a sea-faring life. They therefore consented 
that he should go. The voyage was shortly 
commenced, and, protected by a kind Provi- 
dence, he returned in safety. 

" When his wages were paid, he carried 
them directly to his parents, expending only so 
much for himself, as they deemed necessary 
and proper. At the termination of his second 
voyage, which was still more profitable than the 
former, he found his father's health declining, 
and his worldly circumstances impaired. It 
afforded the purest satisfaction to Henry, to be 



58 THE FAMILY 

able to provide the best medical advice for this 
beloved parent, and to procure those little luxu- 
ries which ill health requires. He also pro- 
moted in various ways, the comfort of his 
mother, brothers, and sisters. 

" In a short time he again sailed as first 
officer, and before he was twenty-three, was 
appointed to the command of the ship. Several 
successive voyages were prosperous and happy. 
At the age of twenty-six he married a pleasing 
and amiable young lady, to whom he had been 
long attached. His circumstances were now 
such, that he could assist his parents and at the 
same time support his own family comfortably, 
and even elegantly. The principal fault which 
his friends noticed in him at this period, was a 
rather extravagant profusion in his personal and 
family expenditures. His furniture, dress, ta- 
ble, — every part of his establishment, was 
splendid. But he was a young man, in good 
business, and with a small family, and these 
considerations seemed to extenuate the fault. 
His wife, however, who had been educated in 
habits of strict economy felt uneasy, and tenderly 
remonstrated with him ; but he laughed at her 
fears, and continued his habits of profusion. 

" In a few years, four lovely children sur- 
rounded their table, who were the pride and 
delight of their father, when at home, and their 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 59 

mother's chief earthly comfort during the sea- 
sons of his long absence. The three eldest, 
Sarah, Mary, and Rebecca were interesting 
girls; while Henry, the youngest child, was the 
favourite of both parents, and not less so of his 
sisters ; for, educated chiefly by their prudent 
and pious mother, these children were early 
taught in honour to 'prefer one another , and to 
rejoice in each other's happiness more than in 
any selfish pleasure. 

" Captain Atherton's parents still lived to 
share in the happiness of their beloved Henry, 
and their sweet grandchildren. 

" His brothers were all grown up, and by his 
assistance established in profitable business. 
Two of his sisters were married to worthy and 
respectable men, and the third took care of 
her parents in their declining years. Of his 
father's little family, Henry was the chief sup- 
port. His brothers would gladly have assisted, 
but he contended, that as he had the most 
property, and was the eldest, he had a right to 
do the most. Filial affection had been from 
childhood a distinguishing trait in his character ; 
as a tender husband, and affectionate father, he 
was not less exemplary : add to this, that he 
was a kind neighbour, and faithful friend, and 
you will not be surprised to learn that every 
tongue was loud in his praise, and that he was 



60 THE FAMILY 

considered one of the most distinguished orna- 
ments of the circle in which he moved. 

" But prosperous, and amiable, and respected 
as my friend was, for the intimacy of our youth- 
ful days continued, there was one radical defect 
in his character — he was not a Christian. It is 
true that he paid some outward respect to the 
ordinances of religion, and had a general belief 
in its doctrines ; but they had not a living 
influence on his heart. He relied on the exter- 
nal arniableness of his character, instead of 
throwing himself as a guilty, weak, and helpless 
creature at the feet of that Redeemer, who is 
alone mighty to save. He trusted in his own 
heart, and felt sufficient, of himself , to resist all 
the temptations which surrounded him. When 
in foreign countries, these temptations were 
often great. Among the gentlemen with whom 
he associated, there were many who were fre- 
quent in their use of intoxicating liquors. When 
visiting on board their ships, Captain Atherton 
was at first, very sparing in the use of an article 
to which he was naturally averse : but when 
they returned the visit, he thought the common 
forms of hospitality required him to urge them 
to partake of the entertainment he had provided, 
and also to set the example. Use soon rendered 
the habit less irksome, and by the time his little 
Henry was four years old, the father when 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 61 

abroad, frequently drank to excess. At home 
he was more guarded, and the intervals between 
his voyages had hitherto been very short ; but 
at this period his health had become impaired, 
and he resolved to pass some time with his 
family. His wife anticipated much domestic 
enjoyment in the season he proposed staying on 
shore, but her hopes were to be soon and sadly 
disappointed. He had not been at home many 
weeks, when she noticed with alarm, that he 
drank much more spirit than-iad been usual 
with him. Her anxieties were awakened, but 
for a long time she shrunk from mentioning 
them ; at last she ventured to hint that it might 
be injurious to his health. He answered that 
she was never more mistaken, for it was the 
only thing that relieved the faintness and ex- 
haustion which he frequently felt. There was 
an unkindness in his manner as he said this, 
which Henry had never shown her before ; she 
was deeply wounded, and could not repress the 
starting tear. Her husband noticed this, and it 
increased his irritation. He felt that he was 
wrong, but was unwilling to confess it ; and, as 
is frequently the case, wished to throw the blame 
elsewhere. 

" It was several weeks before Mrs. Atherton 
again mentioned her fears, but she watched her 
husband's habits with the deepest anxiety ; 



62 THE FAMILY 

and though she could not bear to own even to 
herself, that her beloved Henry was fast becom- 
ing a drunkard, yet the fearful truth would 
sometimes flash upon her mind. 

" The habits of extravagance, which I have 
before mentioned, were now much increased, 
The most expensive articles of dress were daily 
ordered for his wife. It was in vain that she 
remonstrated, he insisted on her wearing them. 
Various rich and costly trinkets were also pur- 
chased for his children. It was with much 
grief that Mrs. Atherton witnessed this lavish 
expenditure. She knew that, though her hus- 
band's property was ample, it would, at this rate, 
be soon squandered away. But the loss of 
property she could have borne with comparative 
calmness, if the painful conviction had not daily 
increased, that the health, and what was far 
dearer than health, or even life, — the character 
and usefulness of her beloved partner, — were 
fast declining under the influence of habits, 
which were constantly becoming more invete- 
rate. While she feared that every eye noticed 
the change, she could not bring herself to speak 
of it, even to her husband's friends. His 
brothers and sisters had long suspected the fatal 
truth ; but they had all looked up to Henry for 
advice and counsel, and they felt that they 
could not tell him of a fault that so degraded 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 63 

him. It was long before his aged parents could 
believe the story of his shame ; but at length 
they too were compelled to admit the fearful 
conviction that their beloved Henry was grossly 
intemperate. 

"Seriously and affectionately did his father 
warn him of his danger, but Henry would not 
believe that he was intemperate. His head 
was weak, he said, and perhaps, he sometimes 
drank more than did him good ; but he defied 
any one to prove that he was a drunkard. Alas ! 
his appearance too plainly proved it. Many 
were the tears which his parents shed, and bitter 
the grief of his other relatives: but his poor 
wife was for a season inconsolable. Dear as 
her husband was, she could have followed him 
to the grave, and been submissive ; but to see 
his fine and manly form writhing with the con- 
tortions of the drunkard, — to see that face on 
which she had so often delighted to look, bloated 
and disfigured, — and to feel that this outward 
ruin was only a faint semblance of that within — 
was more than she could bear. Well has it 
been said, that ' The measure of her wo is, in 
truth, full, whose husband is a drunkard.' 

" But though Mrs. Atherton for a time sunk 
under her affliction, it was not long that this 
state of hopeless despondency continued. The 
consolations of religion came to her aid, while 



64 THE FAMILY 

its duties urged her to awake to their perform- 
ance. For her children, now worse than father- 
less, she had redoubled exertions to make. To 
keep them from their father's presence, when 
he was intoxicated, — to prevent them, if possible, 
from witnessing his shame, — to preserve them 
from the contagion of his example, — were duties 
that were now added to those she had formerly 
to perform. 

" She also tried by every means in her power 
to render her husband's home as pleasant, as 
any place can be to the wretched victim of in- 
temperance. No reproaches were ever heard 
from her lips, and when he returned from his 
midnight revels, which were now frequent, he 
always found her sitting up for him. She 
would attempt to smile at his approach, though 
she had frequently to turn away, to hide the 
tear of bitter anguish. When he was sober, 
she would try to persuade him to give up his 
ruinous habit, but, though on other subjects he 
would still listen to her with pleasure, on this, 
he was deaf to reason. 

" Several years passed on ; his property was 
now so far wasted, that he would gladly have 
gone to sea again ; but he could obtain no 
employment. Bitter was the mortification which 
he felt on applying for a situation, and receiving 
a refusal, but this humiliation did not lead to a 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 65 

reform. On the contrary, he gave himself up 
more entirely to dissipation. 

" Mrs. Atherton had long practised the most 
rigid frugality in all her personal and family 
expenses, but she could not prevent the prodi- 
gality of her husband. Extreme poverty seemed 
likely to be added to her other trials, when 
Captain Atherton was seized with a contagious 
disorder. He suffered extremely for a few days. 
While the fever was raging in his veins he 
would still cry out for his accustomed drink. 
It was painful to his devoted wife to refuse it to 
him, but his physician said it would be certain 
death. Though the fever was dangerous, a 
temperate man might have recovered from it, 
but to Henry it proved fatal. 

" I attended his funeral. — It was a sad and 
solemn scene ; — the faded countenance, and 
wasted form of the still youthful widow, which 
looked as if sorrow had done the work of time, 
— the loud sobs of the children, — the suppress- 
ed grief of the other relatives, and the afflicted, 
care-worn countenances of the aged parents — 
all told that their grief was deeper than that 
which separation from a friend occasions, — that 
their tears were more bitter than those which 
affection sheds over the grave of a beloved, but 
virtuous relative." 



66 THE FAMILY 

The children were silent for some minutes 
after hearing the conclusion of this affecting 
story. At length Eliza asked, " Does Mrs. 
Atherton still live ?" 

Mr. Newell, " She does ; and by great in- 
dustry is enabled to support her children ; none 
of them being able yet to do much for them- 
selves. It is now two years since their father's 
death. After the funeral, Mrs. Atherton found 
that some debts which her husband had con- 
tracted unknown to his family, would take the 
little remnant of his property. After discharging 
these, and leaving the house which had been 
the home of her happiest days, and the scene of 
her severest trials, she removed to a small cot- 
tage, and took in needle work. The avails of 
this, with some assistance from her husband's 
friends, has supplied the necessities of her 
family. They have no longer the elegancies, 
and sometimes not even the comforts of life ; 
but they have the instruction and example of 
their beloved mother, and seem to be growing 
up in the fear of the Lord. 

" The poignancy of Mrs. Atherton's grief has 
abated ; she is resigned, and sometimes, even 
cheerful ; but the vivacity and the bloom of her 
youthful days have departed forever. When 
she looks at her boy, who resembles what Cap- 
tain Atherton was, in early life, a thousand 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 67 

fears are awakened for him. But he has been 
educated in habits of the strictest temperance, 
and, I trust, he will be preserved from the vice 
which destroyed his father. ;; 



aojoe 



CHAPTER V. 

" Persuasion is the only sort of coercion which should be 
adopted by the friends of temperance. Just so far as public 
opinion becomes enlightened on the subject, intelligent and 
benevolent men will be willing to abstain from an indulgence, 
which at the best, is a low and selfish one, for the good of 
others." 

The next Sabbath, Mr. Ellerton, the clergy- 
man of the parish, gave notice that a Temper- 
ance meeting would be held on Thursday 
evening, and respectfully invited all his people 
to attend. He said very interesting facts had 
come to his knowledge, which he should com- 
municate at the meeting, and he hoped it would 
be considered expedient to follow the example 
of other towns in the neighbourhood, by forming 
an Association for the Promotion of Temper- 
ance. 

When the children returned from the Sabbath 
School, Henry, who was almost out of breath, 
in his eagerness to speak first, exclaimed, " We 



68 THE FAMILY 

have a proof-subject for next Sabbath, papa, and 
what do you think it is V 1 

Mr. Newell. "I do not know indeed, my 
son ; what is it ?" 

Henry. " Temperance, papa ; and we are 
to learn all that the Bible says about it. Will 
you help me to find texts?" 

Mr. Newell. "I think, Henry, you will be 
able to select a sufficient number yourself; you 
should never ask the help of others in perform- 
ing your duty, when you can do without it. 
But after you have tried, if you really need 
assistance, your mother or myself will readily 
furnish it." Turning to Mrs. Newell, her 
husband added, " I am glad, my dear, that Mr. 
Homer has selected this subject for the school. 
It will call the attention of parents, as well as 
children, to what the Word of God teaches 
respecting this important duty." 

Mrs. Newell. " It is wonderful how many 
minds have been almost simultaneously directed 
to this subject. A few years ago an intemperate 
use of strong drink seemed likely to overspread 
the community : now, w T e may hope that our 
children will live to see this great evil nearly 
banished from our country." 

Mr. Newell. " Not only from our country, 
but from the world, I trust. I have recently 
learned that Temperance Societies have been 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 69 

formed in England, Ireland, and Scotland ; and 
we may hope that they will soon extend wherev- 
er the crime of drunkenness is known." 

The day after the above conversation took 
place, as Francis and Henry were standing at 
the window, they saw the stage coach advancing 
towards the house. 

Henry, " I really believe the stage is going 
to stop here. Who do you think is coming?" 

Francis. " It is uncle William ; he is getting 
out." 

Mr. William Newell, the gentleman referred 
to in the early part of this work, was a younger 
brother of their father's, and a great favourite 
with the children. His nephews were very 
glad to see him, and Francis secretly hoped, 
that he would be as much pleased with their 
Temperance Meeting the next evening, as their 
uncle and aunt Harding had been. 

The next day their uncle heard the children 
whispering together, and saying how glad they 
were it was Tuesday. His curiosity was some- 
what excited, though he made no inquiry at 
that time ; but when after tea, he saw the boys 
seat themselves by their parents, and noticed the 
joyful, eager expression of their countenances, 
he said to his brother, " Is any thing particularly 
pleasant to take place this evening? The 

G* 



70 THE FAMILY 

children look very happy, and as if they were 
expecting something unusual." 

Mr. Newell. " Nothing unusual, brother. 
For a few weeks past I have devoted Tuesday 
evenings to conversing with my children on a 
subject, which has interested them so much, 
that I believe they always look forward to the 
evening with pleasure." 

Mr. W. Newell. " What is the subject?" 

Mr. Newell. " Temperance." 

Mr. W. Newell. " Temperance, — I suppose 
then you have caught the fashionable epidemic ; 
for really the rage for Temperance Societies 
seems to me to deserve no better name." 

Mr. Newell. " I am sorry to hear you say so, 
brother." 

Mr. W. Newell. " Can you seriously think 
that the best way to reform the intemperate, is 
to set the whole country in commotion with 
Societies, and meetings, and addresses, exciting 
the attention of every man, woman, and child 
to a subject which belongs only to the compara- 
tively small number who have acquired habits of 
intemperance ?" 

Mr. Newell. " And how small do you suppose 
this number to 'be?" 

Mr. W. Newell. " Possibly a few thousands 
in the whole United States. But what are they, 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 71 

compared with the vast number of the temper- 
ate, who have really no concern in the subject." 

Mr. Newell. " A distinguished writer on tem- 
perance has asserted, and I presume with truth, 
that there were in 1828, 300,000 drunkards in 
the United States. If the excitement which 
now exists on the subject, should be the means 
of reclaiming one in ten of these unhappy per- 
sons, would you say it had done no good?" 

Mr. W. Newell. " I did not think there 
were a tenth part so many. But if this state- 
ment is true, I doubt whether Temperance Soci- 
eties will do much towards reforming them. If 
I understand the object of these Societies, it is 
chiefly to prevent that moderate and healthful 
use of distilled spirits, which prevails among 
the temperate. I grant that the abuse of this 
article is a great evil, and that it is a duty to 
make every practicable exertion to reform the 
intemperate. But I would not do it by banish- 
ing an article from the world, which is good, 
when discreetly used. As well might we forbid 
people to eat, because gluttony sometimes leads 
to sudden death." 

Mr. Newell. " Can you tell me, brother, how 
persons become intemperate ?" 

Mr. W. Newell. " By indulging their appe- 
tites to excess, and not by that temperate use of 
ardent spirits, for which only, I contend." 



72 THE FAMILY 

Mr. Newell. " If any article of food or drink 
was proved to be injurious in ninety-nine cases 
out of a hundred, even if it were of some little 
use in the single remaining one, would you not 
say that it had better be dispensed with V' 

Mr. W. Newell. " Certainly : but I have yet 
to learn that this is the case with ardent spirits." 

Mr. Newell. " I think you can easily satisfy 
yourself on this point ; if you will read the 
numerous testimonies of medical men which 
are before the public. Temperance has been 
defined to be, ' Moderation in any things not 
hurtful, and abstinence from those which are.' 
Now if this definition is just, it must be a spe- 
cies of intemperance to indulge, at all, in the 
use of an article, which is so much more hurtful, 
than it is beneficial. Temperance in ourselves, 
therefore, requires us to give it up. But farther 
than this, we are required by the religion we 
profess, to deny ourselves for the good of others, 
to ' look not every man on his own things, but 
every man also on the things of others f- — and I 
am persuaded that the intemperate never will, 
and never can be reformed, while the temperate 
part of the community are constantly tempting 
them to indulge an appetite, which is already 
too strong for them. A few years since, the 
situation of this unhappy class of our fellow 
creatures was well nigh hopeless. The customs 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 73 

of society were such, that they were constantly, 
and on almost every occasion, tempted to do 
what their consciences frequently condemned, 
and what they might perhaps have abstained 
from, if they could have had the example of 
the temperate to keep them in countenance. 
Now, the case is widely different; an intemper- 
ate man who wishes to reform, is aided by 
example as we'll as precept. A writer on this 
subject, alluding to this benevolent feature of 
the temperance reformation, says, c I cannot but 
conclude that its instrumentality is owned and 
blest of Him who came into our guilty and 
ruined world to seek and to save that which 
was lost.'" 

Mr. W. Newell. " How many drunkards do 
you suppose the temperance movement has 
reformed ?" 

Mr. Newell. " From accounts which I have 
lately seen, I should think the number would 
exceed seven hundred within the last three 
years. Some of these persons have become 
respectable and active members of Temperance 
Societies. The change to them, and to their 
families, is one which language fails to describe. 
To see those who but lately were sunk below 
the brutes that perish, degraded in body and 
mind, a curse to themselves and to all connected 
with them, — now restored to the use and enjoy- 



74 THE FAMILY 

ment of all the faculties of rational, social, and 
intellectual beings, — -to see them in many in- 
stances, bending as devout worshippers in the 
sanctuary of God, and using their most strenu- 
ous exertions to benefit their fellow creatures, is 
enough to excite gratitude in any heart that 
is susceptible of benevolent feeling. — I have 
often thought, that on such a change, angels 
would gaze with rapture." 

Mr. W. Newell. " The change you have 
described is indeed great and happy. But seven 
hundred is a small proportion of the number 
you stated as intemperate. 55 

Mr. Newell. " It is, very small ; and I freely 
confess that I do not expect a very large pro- 
portion of those who are considered confirmed 
drunkards will ever be reformed, so long as it is 
possible for them to obtain the intoxicating cup. 
But when we think of one of these wretched 
beings, and of the misery which he spreads 
through the little circle with which he is con- 
nected, — can we think it a small thing to save 
him from utter ruin, — his wife, from that sorrow 
which rends the heart, his children, from being 
ragged, hungry, uneducated ; and what is worse 
than all, following their fathers example, and 
growing up a family of drunkards ? Shall we, 
my brother, who profess to be guided by the 
principles of that religion which ' seeketh not her 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 75 

own,' refuse to deny ourselves for the sake of 
promoting so great a charity ? — And when we 
think not of one simply, but seven hundred re- 
formations accomplished in the short space of 
three years, — shall we despise it as the day of 
small things V 

His brother was silent, and Mr. Newell con- 
tinued, " One reformation of this kind has 
recently occurred within my own knowledge. 
The subject of it was ten years since, an indus- 
trious and respectable mechanic. A family of 
promising children were growing up around 
him ; his business was good, and his prospects 
fair for securing a decent competency ; but 
unfortunately he imbibed a love for strong drink, 
in consequence, I believe, of at first using it for 
medicine. The , habit insensibly increased, 
until it obtained a complete ascendency over 
him. As is frequently the case, it affected both 
his temper and his reason, so that in his parox- 
ysms of drunkenness, he, who used to be, a 
kind husband, and affectionate father, resembled 
a demon, or a wild beast, let loose to devour 
and destroy. His partner frequently trembled 
for her life, and his children fled affrighted 
from his approach. The little property he had 
obtained, by honest industry, was soon wasted, 
while the greater part of his time he was inca- 
pable of earning any thing. He was not always 



76 THE FAMILY 

drunk, however, and in his sober moments he 
reflected with shame and horror on his situation. 
In this state of things, a kind neighbour put 
into his hands some of the temperance publica- 
tions of the day, showing the danger and guilt 
of intemperance, and stating the only remedy 
to be entire abstinence. He determined to try 
it, and by the blessing of God, succeeded. For 
more than a year he has not tasted ardent spirit. 
Peace is restored to his family ; his wife, forget- 
ting all that has past, again feels for him the 
affection of former days ; his children are no 
longer afraid of him ; the elder ones regard 
him with renewed respect, while the little ones 
fondle round him as he returns from work, and 
call him their own dear papa. From an early 
hour in the morning till late at night, the sound 
of tools is heard in his work-shop ; and his 
family, lately threatened with abject poverty, 
are now comfortably supplied with all the nec- 
essaries of life. 

"On the Sabbath, he accompanies them to 
church, and from the serious attention which 
he pays to the services, I hope that this outward 
reformation will be followed by that change of 
heart which is necessary for each of our fallen 
race." 

Mr. W. Newell. " You have drawn a pleas- 
ing picture ; but might not this reformation 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 77 

have taken place, if the present excitement had 
never existed ?" 

Mr. Newell. " If the attention of the public 
had not been called to this subject, the books, 
which seem in the hands of Providence to have 
been the means of his reform, would never have 
been written ; or if they had, would hardly have 
reached this obscure village. But I have al- 
ready intimated, that I do not consider the re- 
formation of drunkards the most important part 
of the Temperance system. Of this class it is 
computed, that 30,000 die annually, so that if 
no new accessions are made to the number, in 
a very few years the country will be rid of the 
accumulated evils which flow from drunkenness. 
And you will admit, I think, without hesitation, 
that if the principle of entire abstinence from all 
intoxicating liquors, should be practised by the 
rising generation, tjiey will not be likely to be- 
come drunkards. 

Mr. W. Newell, (smiling). " Why if they 
continue this principle through life, I think they 
will not be in much danger." 

Mr. Newell. " What tongue can express, or 
what heart conceive, the blessings which would 
flow from universal temperance ! I say univer- 
sal, because I believe that entire abstinence 
from ardent spirits would do much to promote 
temperance on other subjects. Indulgence in 



78 THE FAMILY 

one evil uniformly prepares the way for others'; 
and this seems to be peculiarly the case with 
intemperance ; for when the spirit of drunken- 
ness enters a soul, a legion of evil spirits usually 
follow. In like manner, when one evil habit is 
resisted and overcome, a victory over others is 
more easily obtained ; and I have often noticed 
that when the demon of intemperance leaves a 
man, he is not only found clothed and in his 
right mind, but frequently at the feet of Jesus." 

Mr. W. Newell. " This view of the subject 
is important^ and I shall think more of it. I 
am not yet a convert to the belief that ardent 
spirit, when taken in small quantities, is always 
injurious to the persons who use it. But I cer- 
tainly have no right to purchase a small benefit 
to myself, at the expense of great evil to my 
neighbour. And to be instrumental in forming 
habits of intemperance in one of the rising youth 
of our country, would be paying too dear for the 
little benefit which I might derive from my per- 
sonal use of this article." 

Mr. Newell. u If you were a parent, you 
would feel this still more deeply. The bare 
possibility that one of my children should be- 
come a drunkard, almost unnerves me when I 
think of it ; and I bless God, that they live in a 
day when temptations to this vice are becoming 
less and less frequent." 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 79 

Mr. W. Newell (i I had quite forgotten that 
by taking up your attention so long, I was de- 
priving the children of the more interesting 
view of the subject, which you might have pre- 
sented them." 

Mr. NewelL " Possibly some other parts of the 
subject would have interested them more than 
this discussion. I do not wish, however, to 
encourage in any of my family, a selfish prefer- 
ence of their own interest or pleasure to that of 
others ; and I am sure they will be glad if any 
thing has been said to lead you to take a deep- 
er interest in this subject, for it has rather 
troubled Francis, since he has learned the mis- 
chief which ardent spirit produces, to recollect 
that he once saw his uncle William drink it" 

Mr. W. Newell, (colouring deeply). "Indeed, 
I was not aware that these little things noticed 
so much what passes before them," 

Mr. Newell. " I had thought of relating a 
narrative to my children, this evening, which 
forcibly illustrates the evils of drunkenness, and 
also the possibility of a reformation when the 
habit has become very inveterate ; but as the 
evening is now drawing to a close, I will reserve 
it for the next meeting, when, I hope, you will 
be still with us." 

Mr, W. Newell " I had calculated to leave 



SO THE FAMILY 

you about that ime, but will prolong my stay 
for the sake of hearing it/' 

Thursday evening, Mr. Newell and his broth- 
er, together with Eliza and Francis, attended 
the public Temperance meeting. Mrs. Newell 
was not quite well, and Henry was considered 
by his parents too young to go out in the even- 
ing. The whole party returned much pleased 
with the meeting. Eliza had a great deal to 
say to her mother about it ; and Francis told 
Henry all that he could recollect " There 
were a great many people present," he said, 
" and Mr. Ellerton seemed all alive, but most of 
the facts he stated papa has told us before. He 
said that people sometimes thought they felt 
better for taking spirit, but that it did no real 
good to any body ; and when he said this, I 
thought uncle William looked as pleased as 
any one. There is to be another meeting next 
week." 

Henry. "I wish I was old enough to go to 
evening meetings : but you must remember, 
Francis, and tell me all you can." 

Mr. Newell and his brother had also much 
conversation respecting the meeting. The 
latter said, " I was pleased with the style of 
your minister's remarks ; for though he appear- 
ed very hearty in the cause, he was not so ex- 
travagant and unguarded in his statements as 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. SI 

some of the advocates of Temperance societies. 
I have heard men speak as i^ they thought that 
the single vice of intemperance occasioned all 
the guilt and misery which exists in our fallen 
world. They are fond of tracing every crime 
to this source, and in their glowing descriptions 
of the happiness which would follow, w T ere it 
once banished from society, they seem to forget 
that the heart would still be depraved, and that 
much evil would remain." 

Mr. Newell. " When one great evil is brought 
more immediately before us, and especially one 
which has caused such an incalculable amount 
of wretchedness, it is not surprising that others 
should partially fade from our sight ; but when 
this is removed, we shall be more clear-sighted 
to discern other forms of wickedness, and more 
faithful in opposing them. Besides, you recol- 
lect the view which was given the other night 
of the intimate connexion subsisting between 
this and other crimes, so that I believe it may 
safely be said, that intemperance never exists 
alone. When this is manifested, it is always 
the forerunner of a long and frightful train of 
other vices. I appeal to your own experience, 
brother, did you ever know an intemperate 
man, who was not passionate, or profane, or in- 
dolent 1 who was not an undutiful and rebellious 



82 



THE FAMILY 



son, an unfaithful husband, an unkind father, 
or a troublesome neighbour V 

Mr. W. Newell. " This is frequently the 
character of the habitually intemperate. But 
then these other evils do not proceed from the 
liquor which is drank, but from the depravity of 
the heart. I admit that drunkards do usually 
act out all the evil which is in them, but intem- 
perance does not create it." 

Mr. Newell. " I believe as entirely as you 
do, in the deep and desperate depravity of the 
human heart ; and to this cause, I think, should 
be traced all the crimes which exist. But you 
will admit, that when any evil is manifested in 
a state of drunkenness, instead of being resisted 
and overcome, it is uniformly indulged and con- 
firmed. Have you, William, ever known a 
drunkard, while he continued such, to abandon 
any other vice ?" 

Mr. W. Newell " I recollect no such in- 
stance." 

Mr. Newell. " Were I to press my question 
still farther, and ask if you had ever known an 
intemperate man become a new creature in 
Christ Jesus, and yet continue his habits of in- 
temperance, you would be shocked with the 
incongruity of the idea." 

Mr. W. Newell. " I should certainly say 
that such a conversion could not take place." 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 83 

Mr. Newell. " I have no doubt that extrav- 
agant statements on this subject have sometimes 
been made, but I believe most seriously, that, 
were the vice of intemperate drinking banished 
from the earth, men would be much more likely 
to become Christians, and of course, to be more 
temperate and virtuous in every other respect, 
than they can be while it continues. I will 
read with your permission a few sentences, from 
an Address entitled, an " Appeal to American 
Youth on Temperance," which I think places 
this subject in a just light. " It is obvious," 
the writer says, " that if this great evil [intem- 
perance] were wholly done away, human nature 
generally would assume a much higher charac- 
ter. Pure intellectual and moral stimulus would 
take the place of that which is low, sensual and 
devilish. Better health, better temper, loftier 
intellect, and more expanded benevolence would 
every where appear. Men, instead of sinking 
below brutality itself, would be rising in knowl- 
edge and purity, and striving to ' be perfect, as 
their Father in heaven is perfect/ 

" It is obvious, likewise, that Providence has 
great and happy events to be accomplished by 
the younger portions of this and our parent na- 
tion. Unto them, especially, are revealed those 
oracles which declare, ' Instead of the fathers, 
shall be the children, whom thou mayest make 



84 THE FAMILY 

princes in all the earth/ And already do I 
see, in the silent kindling and expanding of un- 
numbered minds, the presage of a moral earth- 
quake, that will prostrate every despotic throne, 
and every high thing that exalteth itself against 
the knowledge of God ! Millions, trained in 
Sabbath Schools and kindred institutions, will 
soon be i sanctified through the truth ;' and 
then ( great will be the company of those that 
publish it.' Sound in body and mind, and 
quickened by the Spirit of heaven, they will be 
e mighty, through God, to the pulling down of 
strong holds.' The best talent in every depart- 
ment of life will then be put in requisition for 
the highest interests of man. 

" I cannot close without just alluding to re- 
sults, which must quickly follow, should the 
reformation, now in progress, be triumphant 
through the land. O, could the men, who first 
conceived the enterprise of freeing this great 
nation from intemperance, behold the object 
accomplished, as it were in a day, they would 
then feel, and the nation would feel, that noth- 
ing desirable is too hard to be undertaken. 
They would at once inquire, what other great 
evil needs to be removed, and speak the ivord, 
and with God's blessing it would be done. Ref- 
ormation would thus follow reformation, until 
this whole land should become i a mountain of 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 85 

holiness/ blooming all over with i trees of 
righteousness.' 

" Meanwhile, other portions of the human 
family, beholding what Christian freemen can 
do, would emulate our bright example, and na- 
tion after nation be born in a day." 

Mr. W. Newell " I think that what you 
have read is very good." 

As it was late, the gentlemen now separated. 



CHAPTER VI. 

"If ardent spirits are admitted to do more hurt than good 
upon the whole, and, if their use is likely to be attended in future 
with the same ratio of good and evil, it is the part of wisdom to 
abandon, it." 

When the children returned from school 
on Sabbath evening, Mr. Newell asked Francis 
how the scholars succeeded in finding texts. 

Francis. " Very well, I thought, papa. A 
great many were repeated. I should think that 
none of our scholars could ever be drunkards, 
after knowing that the Bible says so much 
against it." 

Mr. Newell. " Were the texts selected, those 
which speak of drunkenness only 1 or were all 
given that relate to the subject of temperance V 



86 



THE FAMILY 



Francis. " The superintendent told us to 
see what the Bible said on all parts of the sub- 
ject. The verse which he gave us as an exam- 
ple, was, " He that striveth for the mastery 
must be temperate in all things." He said that 
a Christian must strive for the mastery over ev- 
ery corruption of his nature, and that nothing 
must be indulged, which the Bible condemns 
as evil." 

Mr. Newell. " Do you recollect any of the 
texts, Henry, which were given against drunk- 
enness V 1 

Henry. " I can find a good many of them, 
papa ; shall 1 read them to you ?" 

Mr. Newell " After tea, I shall be glad to 
hear them." 

The tea-things were no sooner removed, and 
the family seated around the fire, than Henry 
produced his Bible, where he had carefully 
marked many of the texts, which, having ob- 
tained permission, he read. 

" Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging : and 
whosoever is deceived thereby, is not wise." 

" Be not among wine-bibbers; among riotous eaters 
of flesh : For the drunkard and glutton shall come to 
poverty; and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." 

" Who hath wo ? who hath sorrow ? who hath con- 
tentions ? who hath babbling? who hath wounds 
without cause ? who hath redness of eyes ? They 
£hat tarry long at the wine ; they that go to seek 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 87 

mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when 
it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, 
when it moveth itself aright: At the last it biteth 
like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. Thine 
eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart 
shall utter perverse things : yea, thou shalt be as 
he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he 
that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken 
me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick ; they have 
beaten me, and I feel it not : when shall I awake ? I 
will seek it yet again." 

" Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning, 
that they may follow strong drink ; that continue until 
night till wine inflame them !" 

" Wo unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and 
men of strength to mingle strong drink." 

" Wo to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of 
Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, 
which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that 
are overcome with wine !" 

" But they also have erred through wine, and through 
strong drink are out of the way ; the priest and the 
prophet have erred through strong drink ; they are 
swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through 
strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in 
judgment." 

" Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your 
hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunken- 
ness, and cares of this life." 

" Let us walk honestly as in the day ; not in rioting 
and drunkenness." — 

" Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revi- 
lers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 

" Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess : but 
be filled with the Spirit." 



SO THE FAMILY 

Mr. Newell. " I hope, my dear boy, that you 
will remember these texts as long as you live. 
You will notice that not only drunkenness is 
condemned, but a wo is denounced against 
those who are mighty to drink wine. There 
are some persons who pride themselves on being 
able to drink large quantities of liquor without 
being intoxicated ; but in the sight of Him who 
looketh on the heart, they are probably as guilty 
as those whom strong drink deprives of both 
strength and motion. 

" Do you, Francis, recollect any passages 
which inculcate the virtue of temperance, in 
general terms?" 

Francis. " Yes, Sir." 

" The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- 
suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tem- 
perance ; against such there is no law." 

" And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, 
with the affections and lusts." 

" Therefore, let us not sleep as do others ; but let 
us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in 
the night ; and they that be drunken, are drunken in 
the night. But let us who are of the day, be sober, 
putting on the breast-plate of faith and love ; and for 
an helmet, the hope of salvation." 

" Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the 
very God of peace sanctify you wholly : and I pray 
God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be pre- 
served blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus 
Christ." 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 89 

" A bishop must be blameless, as the steward of 
God ; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to 
wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre ; but a lover 
of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, 
temperate." 

" Speak thou the things which become sound doc- 
trine: that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, 
sound in faith, in charity, in patience." 

"Young men likewise exhort to be- sober minded." 

" For the grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath 
appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodli- 
ness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righte- 
ously, and godly, in this present worlcl." 

" Giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue ; 
and to virtue, knowledge ; and to knowledge, temper- 
ance ; and to temperance, patience ; and to patience, 
godliness; and to godliness, brotherly-kindness; and 
to brotherly-kindness, charity." 

Mr. Newell. " Could the full and perfect ex- 
hibition of temperance which some of these 
verses contain, be brought into universal prac- 
tice, I think you would not complain, brother, 
that too much was said in its favour by its 
warmest advocates." 

Mr. W. Newell. " Do you suppose this uni- 
versal temperance is in the minds of all the 
speakers and writers on the subject?" 

Mr. Newell. " In many of them, I believe it 
is, and that they will not be satisfied till temper- 
ance in all things becomes their own motto, and 
that of all with whom they have influence. 



90 THE FAMILY 

" Were there any other passages given, Eliza, 
which your brothers have omitted V 9 
Eliza. " There were a few others." 

a Every man that striveth for the mastery, is tem- 
perate in all things. Now, they do it to obtain a cor- 
ruptible crown ; but we an incorruptible. I therefore 
so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that 
beateth the air : but I keep under my body, and bring 
it into subjection ; lest that by any means, when I 
have preached to others, I myself should be a cast- 
away." 

" All things are lawful unto me, but all things are 
not expedient ; all things are lawful for me, but I will 
not be brought under the power of any." 

" If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no 
flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother 
to offend." 

" It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, 
nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is 
offended, or is made weak." 

" But this I say, brethren, the time is short. It 
remaineth that both they that have wives, be as though 
they had none ; and they that weep as though they 
wept not ; and they that rejoice, as though they 
rejoiced not ; and they that buy, as though they pos- 
sessed not ; and they that use this world, as not 
abusing iY." 

" For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify 
Cod in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 

" Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever 
ye do, do all to the glory of God." 

Having heard all the texts which the children 
had to repeat, some general conversation fol- 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 91 

lowed between the two gentlemen and Mrs. 
Newell, on the excellent tendency of Sabbath 
Schools, as giving children an early and inti- 
mate acquaintance with the Word of God. 

At the next meeting, the children reminded 
their father of the story he had promised them. 

Mr. Newell. " Some of my early years were 
passed in my father's counting-house. His 
business was very extensive, and he employed 
several clerks. Among these there was one 
particularly distinguished. He possessed, what 
are not always united, the most brilliant powers 
of mind, and a peculiarly amiable disposition. 
You, brother, have probably some recollection 
of Frederic Nichols" 

Mr. W. Newell. " I have some faint remem- 
brance of his being with my father, at the time 
I was fitting for College. I afterwards heard 
that he had become very dissipated." 

Mr. Newell. " He was so at a later period, 
but at the time of which I am now speaking, 
his morals were irreproachable. He was near 
my own age, and we soon became intimate. 
From himself I learned many particulars re- 
specting his family, and afterwards, more from 
other sources. His father was a farmer pos- 
sessed of a small property in a neighbouring 
state. His wife had died some years before, 
leaving this son, and a daughter, who was older, 



92 THE FAMILY 

Emily Nichols was a timid, diffident girl ; but 
Frederic soon discovered a very lively disposi- 
tion, and superior talents. Whatever he sought 
to learn, was readily acquired ; among his 
youthful companions he was foremost both in 
study and in play. His wit was sometimes 
exerted at the expense of his friends, but if he 
found that he had really wounded them, he 
suffered more than he inflicted. 

" His father was proud of his son's talents, 
and indulged him too much for his good, — while 
Emily could scarcely believe that any thing her 
brother did, was wrong. In one respect only, 
did Mr. Nichols seriously thwart his son's 
wishes. It was Frederic's earnest desire to 
receive a collegiate education; but his father 
felt that the expense was such as he could not 
meet without embarrassment, and steadily re- 
fused his request. He allowed hirn, however, 
to choose any other occupation which he pre- 
ferred, though it was his own desire that he 
should continue on the farm. 

" But a farmer's life was quite too dull for 
Frederic ; he aspired after distinction, fame, 
and fortune ; and finally, as he was obliged to 
give up his favourite plan, decided to go into a 
store. 

" Mr. Nichols applied to my father, with 
whom he had some slight acquaintance, and 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 93 

the father consented to receive Frederic as a 
clerk. He soon made friends of all the other 
young men, by his fine talents, obliging dispo- 
sition, and constant good humour ; while his 
respectful manners and prompt attention to busi- 
ness obtained for him the esteem of his employ- 
er. He was seventeen when he left home, and 
for several years conducted with the utmost 
propriety. His correspondence with his father 
and sister was frequent and affectionate : once 
a year, he visited for a few weeks the home of 
his childhood. These were seasons of the 
purest pleasure to Emily ; no being on earth 
was so dear to her as Frederic, except her 
father. With her sisterly affection, was min- 
gled an almost unconscious pride, in her broth- 
er's superior attainments, and strikingly elegant 
person. When she listened to his conversation, 
displaying much varied information, and enli- 
vened by a playful but brilliant wit,— when she 
saw him the ornament and the admiration of all 
their little parties, — she felt a glow of conscious 
pleasure at the thought that he was her brother. 
I need not tell you, my children, that there was 
something wrong in this feeling. You know, 
I trust, that while it is our duty to be thankful 
for every valuable endowment in ourselves or 
our friends, we should never he proud of either ; 



94 THE FAMILY 

but rather with deep humility ' adore Him from 
whom cometh every good gift. 5 

" Emily's pride was destined to have a sad 
fall. When Frederic was just turned of twenty, 
he became acquainted with several gay young 
men of infidel principles. He was warned 
against associating with them, but their conver- 
sation was pleasing, and he continued the ac- 
quaintance. In his hours of relaxation they 
walked together ; and not unfrequently, his 
evenings were spent in their society. Cards 
were sometimes introduced ; it was in vain that 
Frederic declared his ignorance of the game ; 
in vain, that he said he had no desire to learn. 
His ignorance was laughed at, and his scruples 
overruled, till after a few months training, he 
became an adept in most of the fashionable 
games of chance. If his friends had played for 
large sums, his fears would have been excited ; 
but they said they staked only just enough to 
excite an interest in the game. 

" When there were no cards, and they met 
for conversation, cigars were usually offered, 
and though Frederic had an extreme aversion 
to tobacco, he so far conquered it as to join in 
the practice of his companions. Smoking gen- 
erally produces thirst, and the habit of drinking 
was soon added. At first, Frederic took only 
wine, but so many of his friends declared brandy 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 95 

to be better, that he was induced to try it. 
While his outward habits were thus corrupted 
by the example of his companions, the influence 
of their conversation was not less injurious to 
his principles. He had been educated to regard 
the institutions of religion with respect, and to 
attend constantly on the services of public 
worship. During the early part of his residence 
in the city, he attended on the ministry of a 
venerable and faithful clergyman ; but now he 
was persuaded to go sometimes to one house of 
worship, and sometimes to another : while his 
object in going at all was not to learn his duty, 
nor to worship his God and Saviour, but to be 
delighted with the eloquence of one celebrated 
preacher, to laugh at the peculiarities of another, 
or to imbibe the loose and sensual views of a 
third. His Sabbath evenings were no longer 
spent in his own room, where he had formerly 
employed himself in reading improving books, 
nor did he come to my father's as he had been 
invited to do, to share in the instructions which 
our venerated parent gave his own children. My 
father felt uneasy, for he considered himself in 
some degree responsible for the habits of the 
young men under his care. He gave Frederic 
much serious advice, which was heard with 
attention, and apparent thankfulness. His 
attention to business continued exemplary, and 



96 THE FAMILY 

his deportment so respectful, that my father 
hoped the best, and neglected to make those 
inquiries, which would have informed him of 
the real truth. 

" Frederic continued faithful in his employ- 
ment till he became of age. He then went 
home for a few weeks, and when he returned, 
informed my father that he was about entering 
into business with a young man, who had been 
a clerk in a neighbouring store. They shortly 
opened a grocery store, on rather an extensive 
scale. Frederic's father had assisted him all 
that he could ; and the other young man had a 
small capital ; but the most of their stock was 
obtained on credit. Had they been prudent, 
they might have done very well. As it was, 
their business seemed to flourish for a time ; 
but their creditors looked carefully to their 
habits, and resolved in their own minds to 
extend no peculiar indulgence to young men 
who expended so much in dress, riding, and 
other amusements. Both Frederic and his 
partner were passionately fond of pleasure; they 
attended the circus, the theatre, the assembly 
rooms, and every other place of fashionable di- 
version ; and the more private habits of dissipa- 
tion, which Frederic had formed, were becom- 
ing more fixed and dangerous. My father was 
the only one who watched over his conduct 



TEMPERANCE MEETING, 97 

with disinterested kindness, and whose opinion 
he stood in awe of; but about this time he 
removed with his family from the city, and 
Frederic's extravagance became more unbound- 
ed. Instead of seeking to be an industrious, 
honest, and useful member of society, he aimed 
to be a dashing young man of fashion. His 
business was too often neglected during the day, 
for some party of pleasure, while his evenings 
were almost invariably passed either at places 
of public amusement, or at a tavern. At the 
latter place, himself and his gay companions 
would frequently spend half the night in smok- 
ing, drinking, and singing improper songs. He 
now seldom visited home. His excuse was 
business ; but the real reason was, that he did 
not like to have his father become acquainted 
with his habits. Besides, the obscurity of a 
remote country town, and the simple society it 
afforded, was no longer congenial to his feelings. 
" When he did go, his father thought his 
appearance rather too much that of a fine gen- 
tleman ; but he knew the times had altered 
since he was young, and thought that a plain 
farmer might be an improper judge of what was 
suitable for a city store-keeper. Towards his 
sister, Frederic was less affectionate than he 
used to be ; he laughed at her ignorance of 
fashionable society, and ridiculed the simplicity 



98 THE FAMILY 

of her appearance. Emily loved him too well 
to be offended ; and would only regret that her 
manners were not more polished, and her ap- 
pearance more fashionable. 

" But the ruin of this thoughtless young man 
was hastening. Both himself and his partner 
gave less and less attention to business, and 
became deeply involved in debt. The sudden 
failure of a firm with which they had some 
connexion, threw them into great embarrass- 
ment; their creditors became alarmed, their 
property was seized, and themselves narrowly 
escaped being cast into prison. 

" Frederic sought an asylum at his father's, 
and his too credulous friends believed him un- 
fortunate but not guilty. He was mortified and 
chagrined, but felt no sorrow for his excesses ; 
no self-blame mingled with his accusations of 
others. After spending a few weeks with his 
father and sister, he became weary of retire- 
ment, and retnrned to the city. As it appeared 
on examination, that neither Frederic nor his 
partner had attempted, at the time of failure, to 
defraud their creditors, but had given up all 
they possessed, a compromise was made, and 
they were permitted to seek employment without 
danger of personal molestation. 

" Frederic, whose abilities were known, soon 
received the offer of being clerk to one of his 



¥EMP£Rx4NCE MEETING. 99 

former friends. The duty was easy, and the 
salary sufficient for his support ; but he had not 
conquered, and did not desire to conquer, his 
former habits of dissipation ; while the mortifi- 
cation which he felt when contrasting his pres- 
ent situation with his former one, led him to 
drink more deeply than before. He now became 
frequently unable to attend to business ; his 
employer seriously remonstrated with him ; but 
when instead of reforming, he grew every day 
worse, he was obliged reluctantly to dismiss 
him. and Frederic again found himself destitute 
of both money and business. Several successive 
situations were tried, but in none did he contin- 
ue long. His character and habits were fast 
sinking to a level with the most degraded of 
his species : he associated with men, who were 
wholly unprincipled, and with women who, 
having forsaken every amiable and lovely attri- 
bute of their sex, had become tempters of others 
to every species of sin. 

" At length, an acquaintance, who had been 
intimate with him in better days, and had some 
slight knowledge of his father, wrote to Mr. 
Nichols, stating Frederic's situation, and urging 
his speedy removal from temptations which 
threatened his utter ruin. 

" Surprised and alarmed, his father came 
instantly in pursuit of him ; and by the most 



100 THE FAMILY 

urgent entreaties prevailed on Frederic to return 
to a home, which was still ready to receive 
him. His almost broken-hearted sister received 
him affectionately, and the neighbours, who 
knew but little of his sad history, except as his 
altered appearance declared it, treated him 
with kindness and respect. But kindness was 
lost upon him, and the most friendly attentions 
were received haughtily and coldly. Dead to 
the social affections, he seemed to have but one 
enjoyment left — that of the bottle ; — and in 
this he constantly and freely indulged. Neither 
the kind persuasions of his sister, nor his father's 
stronger remonstrances were of any avail. His 
drunken fits were always succeeded by seasons 
of temporary madness, in which his excesses 
were such that the lives of his friends were 
frequently in danger. At length, his father's 
convictions of duty united with the urgent 
advice of the neighbours, induced him to place 
his wretched son in a place of confinement, 
where spirit was wholly kept from him. In 
this situation his reason shortly returned. He 
promised amendment, and Emily plead so earn- 
estly for his release, that his father again re- 
ceived him home, where the same scenes were 
acted as before. He was again confined, and 
again returned home to plunge in new excesses. 
This was repeated several times, till his father 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 101 

was almost wholly discouraged ; and Emily, 
worn out with grief and anxiety, appeared the 
mere spectre of her former self. 

" After a season of longer confinement than 
usual, during which, Frederic gave some evi- 
dence of penitence, his father once more 
received him. For several weeks his habits 
were regular ; he spent much of his time alone, 
either in reading, or apparently in deep medi- 
tation. — The hopes of his father and other 
friends were excited ; they conversed very seri- 
ously with him, and he promised never to taste 
spirit any more. There was not that deep 
conviction of sin, which his serious friends 
wished to see, but they prayed for him much, 
and were inclined to hope the best. To Emily 
he was kinder than he had been for years 
before, and the heart of the affectionate girl 
again trusted in him. 

" He now expressed a desire to obtain some 
employment, but was unwilling to return to the 
scene of his former guilt, lest he should be 
again tempted to the same excesses. About 
this time a friend and distant relative of his 
father, who resided at the south, visited his 
native village. On hearing the particulars of 
Frederic's story, and learning his present pur- 
poses of amendment, he offered to take him 



102 THE FAMILY 

with him, and give him employment so long as 
he continued steady. 

" The offer was gladly accepted, and he 
shortly accompanied Mr. Waldo to the south. 
The parting with his friends was a sad one ; 
particularly to them, far they feared that all his 
good resolutions would fail, and that he would 
again become the wretched slave of appetite. 
Emily alone, believed with confidence, that the 
reform would be a lasting one ; but it was very 
trying to her to part with a brother who had 
been dear, even when sunk the lowest in guilt 
and wretchedness. 

" For many months Mr. Nichols continued 
to receive the most encouraging accounts from 
Mr. Waldo of his son's conduct. He stated 
that he was usually low spirited, and not in- 
clined to mingle much in society, but attentive 
to business and perfectly sober. Indeed, he 
believed that he had never once violated his 
promise of total abstinence. Frederic wrote 
but seldom ; when he did, his letters expressed 
much abhorrence of his former mode of life ; 
and the hope that he should be kept from again 
falling into such dreadful sins. 

" When I last saw his father, which was 
several years since, he told me that his son had 
recently married an intelligent and pious young 
lady, and that he hoped much from the infiu- 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 103 

ence of this connexion on his future life. He 
also stated that all the accounts he had heard 
of Frederic had been favourable ; that, by per- 
sons who had visited the place, he had been 
told that he was useful and respected. — He was 
represented as attentive to public worship ; and, 
from his letters, he learned that he had wholly 
abandoned his infidel principles. Mr. Nichols 
even appeared to indulge some hope that an 
abiding change had been wrought on Frederic's 
heart. But after giving this encouraging ac- 
count, the old gentleman added, with a sigh, 
that when he remembered his son's former 
habits, he could not wholly divest himself of 
anxiety, lest they should one day return, and 
all his bright prospects be again overclouded. 
He said what, under Providence, gave him the 
most encouragement, was the general habits of 
abstinence which seemed to be spreading 
through the country. ' If,' he continued, ' the 
customs of society obliged Frederic to keep 
liquors in his house, and to offer them to visi- 
tors, I should have no hope of him. 5 

" Thus, my children, I have added another 
narrative to those I have formerly given you, 
of the ruinous effects of intemperance." 

Henri/. " This story is prettier than the 
Others, papa, because the man left off drinking." 

Francis. " Father, you mentioned smoking 



104 THE FAMILY 

as one of Frederic's bad habits. Do you think 
the use of tobacco is always wrong !" 

Mr. Newell. "I believe smoking is consid- 
ered useful in some disorders, but as a general 
habit, I think it positively useless and perni- 
cious : and one against which children should 
be early warned. The use of tobacco in other 
forms is equally reprehensible. Its general 
effect on the health of those who use it, is 
decidedly bad, and is allowed to be such even 
by the persons themselves. When first used, 
its effect is very painful and disagreeable. No 
boy or man loves the taste of tobacco until long 
habit has reconciled him to it. In frequent 
instances, it affects the nerves severely, and 
produces palpitations of the heart, faintness at 
the stomach, and other kindred disorders. 

" I have heard persons who were much 
addicted to the use of cigars, say, that the effect 
of smoking on the health was almost equal to 
that of drinking ardent spirit ; that they w 7 ere 
conscious that it hurt them ; and yet, such is 
the power of habit, they continued the custom." 

Henry. " I have seen Mr. Ellerton smoke a 
pipe, papa ; and sometimes, he takes snuff. I 
should not think he would do what was wrong." 

Mr. Newell. " It is a painful truth, my; 
child, that the best of men are imperfect. I 
believe our good minister uses very little of this* 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 105 

noisome weed, in any form ; but I wish he 
would give up that little, and I think he will, if 
he continues his temperance meetings." 

Mr. W. Newell. " When a very young man, 
I tried to smoke, as most of my acquaintance 
did so ; but it affected my head so much, that I 
gave it up. When I have thought of the habit 
since, the unnecessary expense has seemed to me 
a very serious objection. If we are stewards 
of the property which the Lord has given, we 
have certainly no right to expend any part of it 
in a way, which will benefit neither ourselves 
nor others. 55 

Mr. Newell. " I suppose that it may be said 
by the advocates of tobacco, as it is by those 
w r ho are unwilling the use of distilled spirits 
should be given up, that the trade in the article 
supports many families, and that a great pecu- 
niary loss would be suffered, if it were aban- 
doned. But, I think, this argument is not 
worth much. The persons now employed in 
the sale of rum and tobacco, could employ their 
capital in some other business. And besides, 
no one is really a gainer by dealing in an 
article which injures his fellow men far more 
than it benefits them. ' The blessing of the 
Lord maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow 
with it. 5 55 

Mr. W. Newell. " I have felt much inter- 



106 THE FAMILY 

ested in the history of Nichols, and, in view of 
his sad fall, should certainly advise any young 
man just entering upon life, to adopt the princi- 
ple of total abstinence from all intoxicating 
liquors ; and, as I suppose it will gratify you, 
brother, to know my resolution, I will add, 
that in future, my own conduct will be regulated 
by this rule." 

Mr. Newell " My heartfelt thanks, dear 
brother, shall ascend to Him who has enabled 
you to form this resolution ; and may His grace 
strengthen you to keep it." 

The next day the children were obliged to 
bid a reluctant adieu to their uncle, as his 
business required him to return home. 



-^^o^~ 



CHAPTER VII. 

" Imagination's gloomiest reverie never conceived of a more 
revolting object, than that of a wife and mother, defiling in her 
own person the fairest work of her God, and setting at nought 
the holy engagements for which he created her." 

The day after Mr. Ellerton's second Tem- 
perance meeting, as Mrs. Newell and Eliza 
were sitting at work, the latter reminded her 
mother of a remark Mr. Ellerton had made, that 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 107 

" intemperance had been confined to no age or 
sex ;" and asked whether it was possible that 
females could ever have been intemperate in 
the sense he meant. 

Mrs. Newell. u It is true, my dear, that 
females have frequently been the victims of this 
degrading vice ; though instances of this kincf 
are not nearly so common as with the other 
sex." 

Eliza. " I suppose you speak only of very 
low, uneducated women, mamma ; but it seems 
dreadful to think that even they should so 
degrade themselves. " 

Mrs. Newell. " It is indeed dreadful ; but 
your supposition is not true. Females distin- 
guished by engaging manners, by amM>le 
dispositions, and by high intellectual attain- 
ments, have sometimes become the slaves of 
appetite,— a disgrace to their sex, and the mise- 
ry and shame of all their connexions." 

Eliza was silent, but the expression of her 
countenance told how much she was shocked 
by this painful, and hitherto unsuspected truth. 
After a pause of some minutes, during which 
the mother as well as daughter seemed lost in 
painful thought, the latter said, " Mother, did 
you ever know such an instance?" 

Mrs. Newell. " Yes, my dear. It was my 



108 THE FAMILY 

sad lot to witness the progress of intemperance 
in one of the friends of my early days." 

Eliza. " Will you give me her history, 
mamma ?" 

Mrs. Newell. (( I will, my love, in the hope 
that it may be useful to you ; for it is quite 
possible that while listening to the sad narra- 
tives, which your father has related, you may 
have thought that you had no personal interest 
in the subject." 

Eliza. "I did think so, mamma ; and felt 
glad that I was not a boy." 

Mrs. Newell. " Listen then to my narrative. 
When a girl at school, I first became acquainted 
with Louisa Bat em an. She was then lovely, 
amiable, and intelligent; a comfort to her 
friends, and esteemed by all who knew her. 
As she was an only child, and her parents 
wealthy, no expense was spared in her educa- 
tion ; while her own efforts to improve were 
such, that the exertions of her parents and 
teachers seemed amply rewarded. 

"In a few years after leaving school, Miss 
Bateman was married, with her parents' entire 
approbation, to a gentleman of the name of 
Farlow. Mr. Farlow's house was very near 
Mr. Bateman's, so that Louisa could see her 
parents if she pleased every day. Nothing 
earthly seemed wanting to complete her happi- 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 109 

ness ; and for a few years both herself and 
husband appeared to enjoy a great degree of 
domestic felicity. One little girl had been 
given to heighten their joys, who in person and 
disposition strongly resembled her mother. 

"At the' time of which I am speaking, it 
was customary in parties of ladies, as well as 
gentlemen, to partake of spirituous liquors, dis- 
guised under the name of cordials, &c. Mrs. 
Farlow drank of these as others did, and insen- 
sibly imbibed a love for them. After the birth 
of a second child, her health became delicate, 
and her nurse according to custom, administered 
large quantities of brandy and water, till the 
invalid began to think this, or some similar 
liquor, was necessary to her health and comfort. 
For many years she continued in the occasional, 
and indeed frequent use of such articles, as 
medicine. When she felt fatigued, or unwell, 
when she had been out in the cold, or suspected 
that she had taken cold, or had a slight cough, 
or any symptom of indisposition, spirits were 
her invariable resort. 

" This habit at length became so frequent 
and its effects so apparent, that in spite of his 
unwillingness to believe it, Mr. Farlow could no 
longer avoid the dreadful suspicion, that the 
wife of his bosom was in danger of becoming 
a drunkard. He had long noticed that her 



110 THE FAMILY 

temper was less pleasant than it had formerly 
been. She had once been a most affectionate 
mother, but now she frequently scolded at her 
children, and complained that they had grown 
very troublesome ; their appearance too bore 
evident marks of neglect. 

" Mr. Far low had long revolved this painful' 
subject in his mind, but how to mention it to 
her who was the cause of it, he knew not. On 
returning to his house one day at the hour of 
noon, his little boy met him at the door, saying, 
6 O x papa, I am glad you have come home, for 
I do not love mamma at all, she is so cross to 
me/ On inquiring of the child where his 
mamma was, he said she had gone up stairs. 
Mr. Farlow followed with sad forebodings and 
found her reclining on the bed, her face much 
flushed, and her whole appearance disordered. 
She complained of a violent headache, but the 
cause of it was too evident. No language can 
describe the anguish of her husband's feelings 
at finding his worst fears thus realized. To 
see her whom he had loved and respected — his 
chosen companion — the mother of his children 
— so sunk and degraded, was worse than death. 

" Mrs. Farlow was unable to go down to 
dinner, and the food that was placed before her 
husband remained untasted. He helped his 
little ones, but he did it with a sad heart 3 as he 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. Ill 

thought that their mother might frequently be 
incapable of attending to them. He felt unable 
to attend to his usual business that afternoon ; 
and as soon as his wife had a little recovered, 
he conversed with her, though it was agony to 
him to do so, on the situation in which he had 
found her, and on the dangerous and sinful 
habit which occasioned it. Mrs. Farlow ap- 
peared much surprised ; she wept at what she 
called his cruel suspicions, and accused him of 
injustice. Her husband was moved, but not 
convinced, by her tears, and again begged her 
to avoid all future occasions of temptation, and 
to resolve nerer to taste of an article which had 
proved so injurious. He described the misery 
which would arise to her, and to her family, 
should his fears be realized ; but she could not 
be persuaded that there was any danger. She 
thought he had lost his affection for her, and 
that he took pleasure in finding fault. 

" Her afflicted husband knew not what to 
do. He thought at first of banishing all intoxi- 
cating liquors from his house ; but he feared 
this would excite suspicion ; besides, she could 
obtain them elsewhere, and he dreaded having 
her expose her shame to others. 

" For a week or two after this conversation, 
Mrs. Farlow refrained from her accustomed 
indulgence, and her husband was encouraged ; 



112 THE FAMILY 

but the habit had become so established, that 
on the recurrence of a slight illness, it again 
returned, and became more inveterate than 
ever. With that want of prudence which so 
often characterizes intemperate persons, instead 
of hiding herself in the privacy of her own 
dwelling, she was fond of calling on her friends 
when she was quite unfit to converse. On one 
of these occasions she made me a visit. Before 
this period, ray suspicions had been partially 
excited, but I was now inexpressibly shocked. 
Not noticing my embarrassment, and probably 
unconscious of her own situation, she talked 
with great volubility ; complaining of her hus- 
band's cruelty, and repeating all he had said to 
her on the subject of her fault. Before I had 
time to reply, Mr. Farlow entered ; he had 
been home, and learning that his wife was at 
my house, came in pursuit of her. I shall never 
forget his look of agony as he beheld Mrs. 
Farlow's appearance. He hastily urged her to 
accompany him home ; but she refused, and 
added that she had just been complaining to 
me of his unkindness. He sunk upon a chair, 
covered his face with his hands. I was si- 
lent, for grief and terror had deprived me of 
the power to speak. At length, her husband 
made a renewed effort to induce her to go home 3 
and she reluctantly consented. 



TEMPERxiNCE MEETING. 113 

v * The next day Mr. Farlow called on me, and 
after mentioning that I could no longer be ig- 
norant of the painful truth, begged me to use 
my influence with his still dear Louisa, to dis- 
suade her from this dreadful habit. In compli- 
ance with his request, 1 so far conquered my 
feelings, as to converse with Mrs. Farlow on the 
subject, using every argument I could think of 
to induce her to abandon all use of spirits, even 
as a medicine. Her parents, from whom her 
situation could no longer be concealed, united 
their entreaties ; but all our remonstrances were 
ineffectual ; she continued the habit, and be- 
came daily more debased by it. 

" But I cannot go any farther into the detail 
of this sad story. I will only add, that her 
children were slighted, every domestic duty 
neglected ( and her husband made wretched, — 
till at last, disease produced by intemperance, 
hurried her to an early grave." 

Eliza remained silent, and Mrs. Newell add- 
ed, " I knew another instance, but I will not 
enter into the particulars of the story, farther 
than to say, that the subject of it was once 
young and lovely ; the darling of her parents, 
and the beloved companion of a large family of 
brothers. She married, and became the mother 
of several children, but at the period when they 
most needed parental care, both herself and her 

L 



114 THE FAMILY 

husband became intemperate. They soon quar- 
relied, and separated. Her parents and broth- 
ers were dead, and her more distant relatives, 
offended and disgusted at her conduct, would 
not receive her. She was reduced to the most 
abject poverty, and sometimes wholly destitute 
of a shelter for herself and her suffering chil- 
dren, except as some pitying neighbour would 
take her in. 

(i I had often seen her in the days of prosper- 
ity, when she lived with her fond parents, and 
the wind was scarcely suffered to blow too 
roughly on her. I saw her once in the season 
of her guilt and wretchedness, and never shall 
I forget the dreadful spectacle. A babe was in 
her arms, who looked as if it had been nurtured 
upon rum, and was altogether the most squalid 
and miserable little object I ever beh'old. The 
most violent passions seemed to have taken pos- 
session of its infant bosom ; its cries were in- 
cessant and angry, while its wretched mother 
was incapable of quieting, or even of holding it, 
it fell repeatedly from her arms." 

Eliza. " Do not tell me any more, mother. 
I wish I had not heard about this poor babe. 55 

Mrs. Newell. " Let these painful stories, my 
love, be a warning to you ; then your feelings 
will not have suffered in vain. 

" I believe, in most of the instances in which 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 115 

our sex have become intemperate, the habit has 
arisen from first using spirits as a medicine. 
This is a rock on which so many have split, 
that I should be unwilling to use it myself in 
any case, or to have my family do so, except 
under the direction of a prudent and experi- 
enced physician." 



-*o$o^- 



CHAPTER VIII. 

" In every city and town, the poor-tax, created chiefly by in- 
temperance, is augmenting. The receptacles for the poor are 
becoming too strait for their accommodation." 

" Thus is the insatiable destroyer of industry marching through 
the land, rearing poor houses, and augmenting taxation : night 
and day with sleepless activity, squandering property, cutting 
the sinews of industry, undermining vigour, en gendering disease, 
paralyzing intellect, impairing moral principle, cutting short the 
date of life, and rolling up a national debt invisible, but real and 
terrific." 

At the next Family Meeting, Mr. Newell 
proposed that they should now leave the subject 
of ardent spirits, and attend to other branches 
of intemperance. 

Francis. " I wanted to ask a few questions, 
papa, about some things Mr. Ellerton said at 
his last meeting." 

Mr. Newell. c< Well, my son, I will answer 



116 THE FAMILY 

them, as I should be sorry to leave any of your 
doubts unsatisfied.'' 

Francis, " Do you remember, papa, his say- 
ing that if all the money, which had been spent 
here for ardent spirits since the place was set- 
tled, had been saved and put at interest, it 
would now amount to more than the present in- 
habitants are worth?" 

Mr. Newell. " I recollect the statement." 

Francis. " Do you think, papa, so much 
money can have been spent for rum, and other 
liquors t" 

Mr. Newell. " Yes, Francis ; I believe that 
all the calculations on this subject fall below 
the truth. The expense of ardent spirits to our 
country has been enormous, and almost incal- 
culable ; and every town has borne some pro- 
portionable share of it." 

Francis. " But you said, papa, that intem- 
perance had not prevailed here so much as in 
some other places." 

Mr. Newell. " It has not ; and probably not 
half the intoxicating liquor has been drunk 
here, as in some towns of equal size : yet, there 
has been enough to occasion a great waste of 
property, beside the moral evils it has produced. 

" I have a tract on Intemperance, written as 
early as 1814, which makes some statements 
respecting the expense of ardent spirits to the 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 117 

nation. The writer states that it was ascertain- 
ed by official documents in 1810, that no less 
than 25,499,382 gallons of ardent spirits were 
distilled in the United States that year ; of 
which were exported 133,853 gallons, leaving 
25,365,529 gallons to be consumed at home. 
The same year, about 8,000,000 gallons of rum 
and other foreign distilled liquors were import- 
ed, making in the whole 33,365,529 gallons, for 
our home consumption in a single year ! For 
many years after, it is probable there was a 
constant and rapid increase in the quantity con- 
sumed. But the amount I have already stated 
is so enormous, that I can scarcely give you 
any idea of it The writer of the tract says, 
that this quantity would fill a canal forty-two 
miles long, ten feet wide, and two feet deep, 
affording convenient navigation for boats of sev- 
eral tons burthen." 

Francis, " I should be afraid to trust my 
boat on it, lest it should take fire. But how 
much do you suppose this river of ardent spir- 
its cost, papa?" 

Mr. Newell. " It was calculated that the av- 
erage cost to the consumers at that time must 
have been at least, one dollar a gallon. This 
would make over thirty-three millions of dollars." 

Francis. " O what a sight of money, and 
how much good it might have done !" 



1J8 THE FAMILY 

Mr. Newell. " It might indeed. But the 
most painful part of the reflection is, that the 
good was not only prevented, but it actually 
produced an amount of evil, which defies all 
calculation. Less than one fifth part of the sum 
thus wasted, would have supported 7,230 min- 
isters of the gospel ; and this would have fur- 
nished one for every thousand inhabitants in the 
United States. 

" Had this money been expended in public 
improvements, it would have changed and beau- 
tified the whole face of our country, producing 
to a very great degree, order, neatness, and 
happiness, where it has now occasioned disor- 
der, ruin, and death. Instead of the broken 
windows, and ruinous habitations, and ragged 
children, and bloated, diseased countenances 
which are so frequently seen ; — instead of the 
broken-hearted wives, and mourning parents, 
and weeping widows, and suffering orphans, 
which it has made, — this sum, judiciously ex- 
pended, would have furnished comfortable dwel- 
lings, and convenient public buildings, and 
pleasant roads, and beautiful churches; — it 
might have filled the cottages of the poor, and 
the habitations of the rich, with temperate, use- 
ful, and happy inhabitants, and the churches 
with humble and grateful worshippers. 

" The same sum would have sent Missiona- 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 119 

ties and Bibles abroad in sufficient numbers to 
have supplied multitudes who are now destitute 
of the bread of life, and at the same time have 
fed and clothed those who are suffering from 
temporal want at home. Or rather, to a very 
great degree, it would have prevented such suf- 
fering ; for it has been repeatedly ascertained 
that a very large proportion of the poverty which 
exists among us, is produced by the love of 
strong drink. This is done in two ways : when 
the father of a family is intemperate, he wastes 
that money on his favourite indulgence, which 
might clothe and feed his children ; w 7 hile, at 
the same time, he is prevented by drunkenness 
from earning more. I have known men, other- 
wise capable and industrious, who for days and 
weeks together were unable, from this cause, to 
do any thing for the support of their families." 

Eliza. u Has there not been a great saving 
of money, papa, since Temperance Societies 
were first formed ?" 

Mr. Newell. " There has ; but I am unable 
to say how great. In some towns, the quantity 
of ardent spirits used, has decreased one quar- 
ter, in others, half; while in a few places none, 
I believe, is either sold or used, except as med- 
icine. 

" I saw it stated in a respectable paper, that 
in the single state of New-Hampshire, there had 



120 THE FAMILY 

been saved in one year, the sum of one hundred 
thousand dollars. 

" Many distilleries have been given up ; some 
from conscientious scruples on the part of those 
who owned them, and others, because the busi- 
ness was no longer profitable. A few years 
since, almost every grocery store retailed spirits; 
now it is becoming an unpopular business, even 
where it is not unprofitable. When a store of 
this kind is opened, it is not unusual to state in 
the advertisement that no liquors will be sold." 

Henry. " Papa, do you not think it is wick- 
ed to sell rum V 9 

Mr. Newell. " I think it would be wicked 
for you or me to do it ; and I hope the time is 
coming, when no person will think it right ; or 
when, at least, it will be found only at the 
apothecaries." 

Francis. " I heard Mr. Ellerton talking to a 
man yesterday, who had a bottle in his hand ; I 
did not hear what he said, but the man replied, 
that it was best for young people not to drink 
rum, but he was too old to leave it off. I hope 
Mr. Ellerton told him the anecdote he mention- 
ed at the last meeting." 

Henry. " What was it, Francis 1 You did 
not tell me." 

Francis. " Mr. Ellerton said, it was stated in 
the paper, that an old man of ninety-one left off 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 121 

drinking strong liquors ; and when his friends 
tried to persuade him that it was necessary for 
aged people to drink, who had been accustomed 
to it, he replied, ' I do not know but old people 
need ardent spirit, but I am not old enough yet 
to need it.' " 

Henry. " I guess he never will need it." 

Francis. " Papa, does it really hurt people 
to leave off the habit of drinking V 

Mr. Newell. " Those who have been intem- 
perate are made sick for a few days, by the 
sudden change in their habits ; but they always 
recover, and after a short time enjoy better 
health than ever. 

" But I think, my children, that you have 
learned enough of the evils of intemperate drink- 
ing, and as I find that business will call me 
from home soon, to be absent several months, I 
feel desirous to say something respecting other 
kinds of intemperance. There is one branch 
of the subject, nearly allied to that we have been 
considering. You will readily understand that 
I mean excess in eating ; this may relate either 
to the quality or quantity of food. 

" The temperate man eats for refreshment 
and strength, and not for the gratification of 
appetite ; he therefore selects those kinds of 
food, which he finds by experience the most 
conducive to health. These are generally of 



122 THE FAMILY 

the plainest and simplest kind. . But of plain 
food, it is very possible to eat too much ; chil- 
dren would often injure themselves if they were 
allowed to eat as much as they wish. And here 
I must mention a species of intemperance to 
which young folks (glancing at Henry) are pe- 
culiarly tempted,— that of desiring fruits, sweet- 
meats, &c. in larger quantities than their friends 
think good for them." 

Henry blushed deeply, for he knew that he 
often wished for apples, oranges, candy, and 
similar articles, when his mamma thought it 
improper he should have them ; though, to do 
him justice, he was never so naughty as to tease 
her, after she had once refused his request. 

Francis. " I remember when I used to think 
it very unkind in Mamma not to give me as 
much fruit as I wanted ; but once I ate so many 
peaches as to make me sick, and then I under- 
stood why she denied me sometimes." 

Mr. Newell. " It would be well if children 
would always feel, that their parents have their 
good in view, when they deny any of their re- 
quests, as much as when they grant others. 
But I have not time to enlarge on this subject. 3 ' 

Francis. " Is gluttony as bad as drunkenness, 
papa V 

Mr. Newell. " Its visible effects are not quite 
so bad, upon either the body or mind, as those 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 123 

of drunkenness ; its evils are nevertheless very 
great. By excess in eating, the health is always 
injured, and sometimes wholly destroyed, while 
the mental powers are stupified and deadened. 
The immortal spirit within seems to be weighed 
down by the grossness of its earthly tabernacle, 
till it becomes almost wholly sensual. 

" Medical men invariably recommend a light 
and simple diet, to those who would preserve 
their health, or recover it, when impaired. 
' The great rule of diet,' Doctor Buchan says, 
' is simplicity. Nature delights in the most 
plain and simple food; and every animal, except 
man, follows her dictates.' 

" At our next meeting, I will give you some 
account of several persons who have been re- 
markable for temperance, and perhaps, read you 
a few extracts from their writings." 



CHAPTER IX. 

" To temperance every day is bright, and every hour is pro- 
pitious to diligence." 

"Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, 
Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence : 
But health consists with temperance alone j 
And peace, O virtue ! peace is all thy own." 

The next Tuesday evening found the^chil- 
dren waiting with their usual interest, to hear 



124 THE FAMILY 

of the great and good men their father had 
promised to tell them about. He began by say- 
ing, " You have heard much, my children, of 
Dr. Franklin. Among the excellent traits of 
his character, was a strict regard to temperance. 
In the early part of his life, he worked in a 
printing-office in London. At this time he 
drank only water and gruel, while his solid food, 
if I recollect aright, was chiefly bread. His 
fellow-workmen drank large quantities of beer, 
which they supposed necessary to preserve their 
strength ; yet Franklin, whom they called the 
American Aquatic, was much the strongest. 

" Few professional men in our country have 
been more deservedly eminent than the late Dr. 
Rush of Philadelphia, As a practical physi- 
cian, a lecturer, and an author, his reputation 
is very great. Among the causes which made 
him thus distinguished, his habitual regard to 
temperance was one. It has been stated re- 
specting him, that ' he knew nothing of that 
lethargy of indolence, that follows the inordinate 
gratifications of the table. His powers were 
never clogged by repletion, or enfeebled by 
intemperance. They were thus preserved in 
constant elasticity and vigour, and every hour 
with its returning employments found him ready 
and active to engage in them.' 

" Of Galen, a distinguished Roman physi- 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 125 

eian, who wrote many works on medicine, it is 
asserted, that " he was born with an infirm con- 
stitution, and had many and severe illnesses, 
but by a strict attention to temperance was nev- 
er seriously ill after attaining his twenty-eighth 
year. He lived to be over a hundred years. 
His advice to others in one of his books, is, i I 
beseech all persons who shall read this work, 
not to degrade themselves to a level with the 
brutes, by eating and drinking promiscuously 
whatever pleases their palates, or by indulging 
their appetites of any kind. Whether they un- 
derstand physic or not, let them consult their 
reason and observe what agrees with them, and 
what does not agree with them, that like wise 
men, they may adhere to the use of such things 
as conduce to their health, and forbear every 
thing which by their own experience they find 
to do them hurt ; and let them be assured, that 
by a diligent observation and practice of this 
rule, they may enjoy a good share of health, 
and seldom stand in need of physicians. 5 ,,J 

" You will perceive that the extract I have 
read from this celebrated physician, relates 
chiefly to the influence of temperance on the 
bodily health ; but the health of the mind, which 
is far more important, is equally promoted by a 
course of strict temperance. 

" To the instauces which I have mentioned 

M 



126 THE FAMILY 

of persons eminent for this virtue, I will add 
the great and good Archbishop Leighton ; a 
man in whom every Christian virtue shone with 
superior lustre, while his humility was most 
eminent of all. In a corrupt and factious age, 
he exemplified much of the ' wisdom that is first 
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be 
entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without 
partiality, and without hypocrisy.' His tem- 
perance was universal ; he kept under every 
bodily appetite, and brought it into subjection. 
When the sister with whom he resided, once 
urged him to partake of a particular dish, 
extolling it as very good, he declined it, saying, 
' What is it good for but to please a wanton 
taste?' c But/ answered his sister, ' why were 
these things bestowed on us V ' To see/ he 
replied, 'how well we could forbear them.' He 
was equally temperate in other indulgences, and,, 
judging from his biography, seemed to make it 
the great rule of his life, to abstain wholly from 
things sinful, and to be moderate and sober in 
the use of those earthly delights which are 
lawful. With this his writings agree. * Reli- 
gion/ he says, ' debars not from the lawful 
delights which are taken in natural things, but 
teaches the moderate and regular use of them, 
which is far the sweeter ; for things lawful 
in themselves are in the excess sinful, and so 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 127 

prove bitterness in the end. And if in some 
cases it requires the forsaking of lawful enjoy- 
ments, for God and for His glory, it is generous 
and more truly delightful to deny them for this 
reason, than to enjoy them.' 

" ' All immoderate use of the world and its 
delights, wrongs the soul in its spiritual condi- 
tion, makes it sickly and feeble, secure and 
heavy in spiritual exercises, and obstructs the 
way and motion of the spirit of God in the soul. 
Therefore, if you would be spiritual, healthful, 
and vigorous, and enjoy much of the consola- 
tions of Heaven, be sparing and sober in those 
of the earth, and what you abate of the one, 
shall be certainly made up in the other. Health, 
with a good constitution of body, is more a con- 
stant permanent pleasure, than that of excess, 
and a momentary pleasing of the palate.' 

" I should be glad to quote more largely from 
this excellent writer if I had time, but you will 
find his works in my library, and when you are 
older, I hope you will read the whole of them. 

" In the extracts I have read to you, intem- 
perance in eating and drinking has been chiefly 
alluded to. There is another intemperate in- 
dulgence on which I wish to make a few 
remarks,— that of excess in sleeping ; especially 
the habit of lying in bed late in the morning. 

" You, my dear children, have been accustom- 



128 THE FAMILY 

ed to rise early, and can hardly form an idea of 
the evils which result from the opposite prac- 
tice ; or of the difficulty of breaking the chains 
of indolence, when they have once been suffered 
to enslave the soul. I now warn you to guard 
against coming under their power ; yield not 
for a moment to the solicitations of indolence 
when she pleads for * a little more sleep, a little 
more slumber, a little more folding of the hands 
to sleep' — but rise as soon as you awake, if the 
hour is suitable, and devote the first and best of 
your time to reading the Scriptures, and to 
communion with Him who seeth in secret, and 
who has preserved you through all the dangers 
of the night ; thus will you be prepared to enter 
with alacrity and vigour on the duties of the 
day. If I were not aware how strong are the 
temptations of indolence, and how easily and 
unwittingly you may at some future time come 
under their power, I should think I had said 
enough. 

" As it is I will read you an extract from a 
notice of ' Letters on Early Rising.' The 
work is introduced by a remark of the reviewer, 
that ' among the practices most conducive to 
health, serenity of mind, and the successful 
promotion of study and business, early rising 
holds a conspicuous rank.' 

" In the letters, a forcible appeal is made to 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 129 

the experience of the habitually indolent, when 
on some extraordinary occasion they have broken 
through the chains of habit. ' Let me inquire/ 
the writer says, < what have been your feelings, 
when peculiar circumstances of business, or 
other sufficiently strong inducements, have led 
you to rise earlier than usual ? Have you not 
been surprised at your first insensibility, which 
could suffer you to lose so much valuable time ? 
Have you not despised yourself for having 
yielded to what is generally called an indulgence, 
but which you have found to be a complete 
obstacle to the most exquisite of all indulgen- 
ces V 

" After describing some of the pleasures of 
early rising, the writer continues, * How oppo- 
site are these feelings to those experienced by 
one lying on a bed of sloth and laziness. He 
condemns his irresolution, the consciousness 
which inflicts upon him all the disgrace of a 
cowardly surrender, but fails to call forth the 
struggle of contest, or to stimulate to the honor 
of victory. He regrets the loss of time, which 
he makes no effort to redeem. He wishes 
without possessing, and repents without per- 
forming.' " 



130 THE FAMILY 



CHAPTER X. 

"The man who rules with absolute control 
The angry passions, which deform the soul, 
A more important victory can boast 
Than he whose might has overcome a host. 

" The soul is sicken'd and the heart is pain'd 
To trace the course of anger unrestrain'd, 
Blasting the pleasures of domestic life 
With bitter brawls, and scenes of savage strife." 

As the time drew near when their beloved 
father was to leave them for a season, and their 
pleasant Family Meeting be given up, Tuesday 
evenings became more precious to the children 
than ever. So anxious were they to hear all he 
had to say to them, that they were more cau- 
tious than usual of interrupting him by asking 
questions. 

He began to discourse the next evening by 
saying, " One of the most dangerous kinds of 
intemperence is that which relates to the indul- 
gence of the passions. 

" You may have heard of persons being drunk 
with passion, and it is true that violent anger 
frequently produces on the outward appearance 
many of the same shocking and disgusting 
effects as intoxication ; its effects on the soul, 
no language can properly disclose. But it is 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 131 

not only an extreme degree of anger, and other 
evil passions, such as envy, jealousy, hatred, 
and malice which temperance forbids ; but the 
slightest possible indulgence in them. Entire 
abstinence from all these it requires, and requires 
it on the authority of the sacred Scriptures. 
( Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and 
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from 
you, with all malice / is the command of one 
inspired apostle. ' Whosoever hateth his broth- 
er is a murderer/ is the language of another. 

" The evils which flow from the indulgence 
of the angry and malevolent passions are very 
great. They have spread carnage and desola- 
tion over the earth, and made ( man the foe and 
murderer of man.' From these have proceeded 
' wars and fightings/ and all the atrocities 
which have rendered this fair world so often a 
field of blood ; a spectacle for angels to weep 
over, and demons to behold with exultation. 

" When you hear that thousands have per- 
ished in battle, or listen to the story of some 
maimed and wretched survivor — when you are 
told of some dreadful murder, where the assassin 
in the silence of night has sought the chamber 
of his victim, and plunged the dagger in his 
heart — you are filled with horror, and think it 
cannot be men such as you see around you, but 
the spirits of darkness who perpetrate such 



132 THE FAMILY 

deeds. But remember, that it is the indulgence 
of passions, such as exist in your own bosoms, 
which leads to all these enormities. If you 
cherish anger, or envy, or hatred towards 
another, in the slightest possible degree, that 
Being who looks on the heart may judge you 
as a murderer. Beware then, my dear children, 
of the indulgence of any evil propensity, and 
pray to Him who can alone save from sin, for 
grace to renew and sanctify your hearts, ' Ask, 
and ye shall receive,' is His own most gracious 
language. But the strength which He gives, 
must be used ; the corruption .of your nature 
cannot be subdued, without the most strenuous 
exertions on your part. The language of an 
Apostle is, ' Work out your own salvation with 
fear and trembling : for it is God which work- 
eth in you, both to will and to do of His good 
pleasure.' 

" I have spoken of the angry and malignant 
passions, but there are others which must be 
wholly abstained from. Avarice, which the 
Scriptures every where condemn as idolatry, — 
pride, which is described as peculiarly hateful 
in the sight of God, — and vanity, or a selfish 
desire of human approbation, are all utterly 
wrong." 

Eliza, " I have heard persons speak of an 
improper pride, and I have thought, if the 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 133 

expression was just, that some kind of pride 
was right." 

Mr. Newell « The word of God, my child, 
is the only infallible standard of right and 
wrong ; human opinion is to be regarded only 
so far as it agrees with that. If you can find 
that pride of any kind, is approved in the Bible, 
then, you may safely indulge it. If, on the 
contrary you find it universally condemned as 
one of the dispositions which the Lord hateth, 
and which he will certainly abase, — if you find 
it repeatedly stated, that ' God resisteth the 
proud, but giveth grace unto the humble,' — that 
6 the Lord will cut off all flattering lips, and the 
tongue that speaketh proud things,' — that ' a 
proud look 5 is ' an abomination unto Him,' and 
that He ' knoweth the proud afar off;' — if our 
Lord has ranked it among the evils, which, He 
describes as coming out of the heart, and as 
defiling the man, — if He has classed it with 
' murder, theft, covetousness, blasphemy, and 
foolishness,' we may be sure it is never right, 
and can never be indulged without sin. 

" I have frequently heard the expression you 
mention ; I have also heard persons speak of a 
just pride, a proper pride, and a becoming pride, 
but I have thought that such persons had not 
acquired their views from the Bible. If we 
make that the rule of our conduct, and study 



134 THE FAMILY 

its sacred pages with a sincere desire to know, 
that we may do the will of God, we shall not 
greatly mistake our duty, and shall not be 
drawn from it by the opposing principles of the 
world around us. 

" I have mentioned the love of admiration 
as an intemperate passion. One form of this, 
or rather one evil which frequently results 
from it, especially in females, is an inordinate 
love of dress and appearance. I am very far 
from condemning all regard to personal appear- 
ance. In both sexes, it is a duty to pay some 
attention to this. The rules of neatness, de- 
cency, and propriety should be strictly regarded ; 
some degree of deference is also due to the 
customs of society. A style of dress that would 
be improper in one place or station, might be 
altogether suitable in another. The evil which 
I censure, is that love of display — that desire of 
admiration, which leads persons to waste much 
time and money in personal adorning. Children 
are very frequently vain of new clothes, and 
older persons too often foster this passion in 
them, by saying, c What a becoming frock you 
have' — c Your bonnet, or hat, or cap,' as the 
case may be, c is a very pretty one, and you 
look charmingly in it. J " 

Henry smiled as his father said this, but he 
also blushed deeply, for he recollected that he 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 185 

had been pleased with some such remark a few 
days before. With his usual frankness, he 
said, " Some ladies told me last Saturday, they 
thought my new cap was very pretty, and that 
I looked well in it." 

Mr. Newell " Did you feel that it added 
any to your real worth, to have a new cap, or 
to look well in it ? Had it any influence in 
making you a better boy?" 

Henry. " No sir ; and I am afraid it made 
me proud ; for I felt pleased, and laughed at 
Joe Somers because his cap was an old one." 

Mr. Newell. " As I hope you now feel con- 
vinced this disposition was wicked, and feel 
sorry for it, I shall make no farther remark, 
except to say, that I should feel very thankful if 
my Henry was as good a boy as Joseph Somers, 
even if he were always obliged to wear an old 
cap." 

The tears were instantly in Henry's eyes, as 
he said, " Forgive me, papa ; I do wish to be 
good, and am sorry that I was so naughty." 

Mr. Neioell. " I forgive you, my son, but 
when you are proud or vain, you sin against 
God ; and of Him you must ask forgiveness, 
and strength to resist every easily besetting sin. 
He alone can make you truly humble and peni- 
tent." 

Mr. Newell looked at his daughter as he 



136 THE FAMILY 

uttered the last words. Her eyes too were full 
of tears, and her face covered with blushes. 
The truth was, that though Eliza in many 
respects, was a very amiable girl, she felt con- 
scious when her father spoke to Henry of his 
fault, that she was far more deeply guilty. She 
often desired to dress more than her mother 
thought suitable, and was not a little elated 
when her personal appearance was praised. She 
had once heard a person who was walking 
behind her say, " What a fine girl Eliza Newell 
is, and with how much taste she dresses. 5J 
This remark was not intended for her ear, but 
it had a very unhappy influence on her heart. 
From that period the love of dress and personal 
admiration had become a serious fault, and one 
which her parents were very solicitous to check. 
She now felt the evil, and wanted to confess it, 
but timidity prevented, and she was silent. 
Her father, however, understood her feelings, 
and said, " If we are conscious that the faults 
which have been mentioned, are ours, while we 
should be deeply humbled for the sin, we must 
not despair through divine grace, of conquering 
them. The strength of our Redeemer is suffi- 
cient, if we humbly and penitently ask His aid. 

" As I have other business to attend to this 
evening, we must now close the meeting." 

After family worship, when her mother had 



TEMPERANCE MEETING, 137 

retired with the boys, Eliza opened her heart 
very freely to her father, confessed the vain 
feelings she had indulged, and asked him to 
pray that the love of dress, and every other 
sinful passion might be removed from her heart. 
He affectionately promised to do this, and after 
giving much kind and faithful advice, bade her 
good night, as he had business which called for 
his attention till a late hour. 



S c**e— 



CHAPTER XI. 

" To be resign'd when ills betide, 
Patient when favours are deny'd, 

And pleas'd with favours given : ] 
Dear children, this is wisdom's part 5 
This is that incense of the heart, 

Whose fragrance smells to heaven." 

The next Tuesday evening was the last 
which Mr. Newell expected to spend with his 
family for many months. It was therefore, in 
some respects, a sad one to the children ; but 
their father's remarks soon made it interesting 
and profitable. 

He resumed the subject of the last evening 
by saying, " I have spoken hitherto of those 
passions which are always evil, and which should 

N 



138 THE FAMILY 

be utterly resisted and overcome. But there are 
other affections of the soul, which are right or 
wrong, according to the source from whence 
they spring, and the objects on which they are 
exercised. Love is the principal of these. To 
love the Lord our God with all our heart, and 
soul, and mind and strength, is our first and 
most important duty. This love can never be- 
come intemperate. We are also commanded to 
love our neighbour as ourselves. If we obeyed 
these commands in spirit and in truth, all the 
affections of our souls would be in perfect har- 
mony. But we are fallen and sinful creatures, 
depraved in all our affections, and by nature 
inclined to love self and the world supremely. 
Under the influence of these principles, the love 
we bear to others is often inordinate and selfish, 
We love our friends too frequently, because they 
minister to our gratification. If we loved them 
with true Christian affection, there would be no 
danger of excess. We should love them only 
so far as was consistent with our love to the 
Lord ; in like manner, our love for every earthly 
object would be subordinate to our love of duty. 
No idol would be suffered to usurp that place 
in our affections, which is due to our Lord and 
Master; and loving Him'supremely, we should 
love whatever He requires. 

" I need not say, my children, how far this is 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 139 

from being our natural character ; young as you 
are, you must all have felt that you frequently 
love other things more than you do your duty. 
That you love to have your own will, and to 
seek your own selfish happiness, instead of 
loving to do the will of your Creator. From 
this perverted state of the affections arises the 
necessity of being born again. By ' the wash- 
ing of regeneration, and the renewing of the 
Holy Ghost/ that change is effected, which 
leads our hearts back to their rightful sovereign, 
and causes us to love all other persons and 
things in subordination to His will. May you, 
my dear children, be the subjects of this change ; 
then will your love for your parents and for each 
other, be divested of all that is selfish and inor- 
dinate, — then will old things pass away with 
you, and all things become new. 

" But before leaving this subject, I wish to 
describe more particularly some of the opera- 
tions of selfish love. That regard for our 
friends is always sinful, which leads us to do, 
or to desire to do, any thing wrong for the sake 
of pleasing them. If we would rather neglect 
our duty, than forfeit their affection, we may be 
sure our love is selfish and intemperate ; in like 
manner, if we wish them to neglect any duty 
for the sake of attending to us, our affection is 
wrong, 



140 THE FAMTLY 

" The love which parents bear to their chil- 
dren is among the strongest of the natural 
affections. If regulated by love to the Lord 
and to duty, this affection is pure and virtuous; 
but it is a selfish and sinful love when it leads 
them to approve or to tolerate what is wrong. 
And so of the love which is borne to any other 
relative or friend. 

" Perhaps, if I say more, I shall not be able 
to make this subject perfectly plain to you. I 
will therefore only repeat that we must love the 
Lord supremely, — this is the first and great 
commandment; and our neighbour as ourselves, 
which is the second, and of equal obligation. 
If we do this, our love will not be intemperate ; 
but just so far as we fall short in these duties, 
we shall love other objects with a forbidden and 
sinful affection. 

"Fear is another passion which is very fre- 
quently intemperate. ( The fear of the Lord 
is the beginning of wisdom.' We cannot fear 
him too much ; but even this should be a filial 
fear, a fear of offending Him, rather than a 
slavish dread of punishment. We should also 
fear to do evil ; indeed, the fear of the Lord 
will necessarily produce this ; and here, there 
is no danger of excess. But there is another 
kind of fear ; a ' fear of man/ which the Bible 
gays, e bringeth a snare ;' and this should be 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 141 

most carefully watched against. Persons are 
sometimes afraid to do right, lest those they call 
friends should be offended. Young persons are 
frequently afraid of being laughed at, or re- 
proached; and some, will even conceal their 
principles, and pretend to be what they are not, 
rather than meet the smile of derision or con- 
tempt. This sort of fear you can readily see is 
very wicked. 

" The fear of natural evil is also frequently 
excessive. We may very properly fear pain, 
and avoid exposing ourselves to it unnecessarily. 
But there is a state of feeling very common, 
and very sinful, — that of anticipating future 
evil, and being made unhappy by the fear of it. 
Children frequently fear to be left alone in the 
dark ; they are afraid something will hurt them, 
though they know not what. Such fears are 
both foolish and wicked. The Lord is ever 
present ; wherever we are His Providence sur- 
rounds us. No evil can befal us without His 
knowledge ; none will ever come upon us unless 
He sees it to be necessary and right. Children 
generally feel safer with their parents than any 
where else ; and if we all realized that we have 
a Father in heaven, ever present, and ever 
powerful, we should not be disturbed by the 
fear of imagining evils. 



142 THE FAMILY 

" Among the class of fears which I have 
termed imaginary, perhaps there are none more 
common, or more painful, than those which 
regard the safety of absent friends. When 
separated from those we love, we are apt to feel 
anxious about them, to fear that they are ex- 
posed to danger or suffering, and that perhaps, 
we shall never see them again. I have known 
persons make themselves so unhappy by these 
causes, as to be disqualified for the performance 
of duty. But all such fears are intemperate 
and sinful. When called to part from our 
friends, we should commit them cheerfully to 
the care of divine Providence. It is our duty 
and privilege to pray that our heavenly Father 
will bless and keep them; that He will lift upon 
them the light of His countenance, and lead 
them in the right way. But every anxious 
thought, and every unbelieving fear, is sinful. 

" The subject to which I have alluded, leads 
me to remark upon another passion which is 
often intemperate ; I mean grief. It is always 
right to be grieved at sin, whether in ourselves 
or others. On this account, we cannot sorrow 
too much, for by this ' sadness of the counte- 
nance the heart is made better. 3 But I believe 
there is no other kind of grief in which there is 
not great danger of excess. 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 143 

u We are not required to be insensible or 
indifferent to suffering of any kind ; but if ex- 
posed to it in the righteous providence of God, 
it is our duty to bear it patiently and submis- 
sively ; to feel that it is a Father's hand which 
inflicts the stroke, and to be penitent and sorry 
for the sins which have occasioned it. Arch- 
bishop Leighton has so well expressed my own 
views on this subject, that I shall read to you a 
few sentences from one of his books. 

"' Grace doth not only permit, but requires 
some feeling of afflictions. There is an affected 
pride of spirit in some men ; they strive not to 
feel at all the afflictions that are on them ; but 
this is to despise the correction of the Lord, 
w T hich is alike forbidden with fainting under it. 
We should not stop our ears, but hear the rod, 
and Him that hath appointed it. Where there 
is no feeling at all, there can be no patience, 
Consider it as the hand of God, and thence 
argue the soul into submission. I was dumb, I 
opened not my mouth because Thou didst it, 
said the Psalmist.' 

" As this excellent writer has implied, we are 
not forbidden to feel any affliction, whether 
personal or relative. It is right that we should 
feel when afflicted in our own persons ; the 
chastisement is sent that we may feel, and profit 



144 THE FAMILY 

by it. But it should be a humble, and patient, 
and submissive feeling, which acknowledges 
the justice and mercy of our heavenly Father 
in afflicting us, and is willing to bear the suffer- 
ing just so long as He sees it necessary. It is 
right that we should sympathize with our friends, 
or with any of our fellow creatures when they 
suffer ; that we should ' weep with them that 
weep/ and bear, so far as it is possible, each 
other's pain. But it is not right to cherish that 
rebellious sorrow which murmurs at the hand 
that afflicts. This grief does not proceed from 
true charity, or love, but from a selfish source, 
and is therefore wrong. There is also a kind 
of sorrow, which seems to me a refinement in 
selfishness, by which persons are rendered inca- 
pable of attending to their friends when sick. 
Their plea is, that they feel the sufferings of 
Others, and especially of those they love, so 
deeply, that they cannot bear to witness them ,* 
but if this feeling proceeded from true sympa- 
thy, or true love, it would lead to the most 
active exertions for their relief. I do not w T ish 
to remark with severity upon the faults of 
others, nor to mention them any farther than is 
necessary. But I beg, my children, that you 
will never indulge that intemperate, selfish 
sorrow, which would lead you to turn away 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 145 

from a suffering, dying relative, from a regard 
to your own feelings ; and to leave those you 
love in their last moments to the care of stran- 
gers. It is when sick and afflicted that we 
most need the kind offices of friends. We 
should be thankful for the attention of strangers : 
but it is sweeter by far, to have our pillow 
smoothed by the hand of affliction,— to have 
the cordial offered to our lips by a child, or sister, 
or friend. 

" But while I censure that neglect of sick or 
dying friends which proceeds from selfish feel- 
ings, I think there is equal danger that the 
sufferer, from the same cause, will require too 
much ; that he will think of his own wants so 
exclusively, as to be regardless of the comfort 
of those around him. The fault in both cases 
is similar, and will be most effectually overcome 
by the cultivation of that charity which seeketh 
not her own. 

" I must now say a few words on the grief 
■which is occasioned by the death of friends. 
As in other afflictions, so in this, I believe it is 
right to feel and to feel deeply. But we must 
not murmur, nor even regret, that the Lord has 
seen fit to remove our friend. That indulgence 
of grief, in which the soul refuses to be com- 
forted, is always wrong. In the spirit of deep 



146 THE FAMILY 

humility and submission, we should try to say, 
' Father, not our wills, but thine be done.' 
' Even so Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy 
sight. 5 'The Lord gave, and the Lord hath 
taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.' 
Even should it be a parent who is removed, 
with the Psalmist we ought to say> ' When my 
father and my mother forsake me, then the 
Lord will take me up, J '* 

The children had been very serious through 
the evening ; and when their father alluded to 
a parent's death, they could no longer restrain 
their tears. Perceiving that neither of the 
party was inclined to speak, he added, " I am 
not sorry that our subject this evening has led 
me to speak of that separation which death 
occasions. I am about to leave you for a sea- 
son, and while absent, shall be exposed to the 
perils of the mighty deep, and to other dangers 
which I can neither foresee nor prevent ; but 
my trust is in that Being who is neither 



Slow to hear 



Nor impotent to save.' 

And though my family during my absence may 
be exposed to many dangers, I can trust them 
most cheerfully in the same hands, assured that 
whatever may befal us, the Lord will do right 



TEMPERANCE MEETING. 



147 



u Should the whole of this little family circle 
never meet again on earth, I hope that survivors 
will bear in mind this last conversation, and 
feel the duty of implicit resignation to the divine 
will. But while I speak thus, in order to pre- 
pare you for the worst, I hope, my dear children, 
that with the return of another autumn, your 
father will be restored to you, and that our 
pleasant Family Meeting will again be re- 
sumed." 




3S# tf)e same ^utjjor? 

Sabbath School Scenes. 

Motherless Ellen, or the Orphan Children ; with 
their Correspondence. 

Sabbath School Teacher's Visits ; an Antidote to 

the Vice of Profancness. 
The Evil of Theft ; exhibited in the History of 

James Forrest, a Penitent Sabbath Scholar. 




JUVENILE B 

punished and p o 027 279 766 3 

JAMES LORxxr^ 

No. 132, Washington Street. Boston. 



SCOTTISH LOOM BOY. 

Evil of Theft : exhibited in the History of a Penitent 

Sabbath Scholar. 
Narrative of Miss Lucy Cole, of Sedgwick, Maine. 
Malan's French Peasants. 
Memoir of Mrs. Eliza Leslie. 
Butler's Friendly Letters to a Lady. 
Narrative of Sophia Leece. 

Dr. Malan's European Children, or Instructive Sketches 
Mrs. Wade's Burman Slave Girl, together with useful 
articles about Burmah ; with a cut representing a female 
scholar returning from the Zayat, 
Sabbath School Teacher's Visits, by a Teacher. Mother- 
less Ellen, do. Sabbath School Scenes, do. 
Thornton's Counsels and Cautions for Youth. 
Mayhew's Lives of Indian Children ; do. Lives of Indian 

Chiefs ; do. Lives of Indian Women. 
Orphan Lucy, or Power of Piety. 
Pious Mother's Love Illustrated. 

African Valley, together with Mrs. Judson.'s Narrative, &c. 
Mother's Garland, by Mrs. Phelan. 
Pollok's Ralph GemmeL. 

Sherwood's Youths' Casket ; do-. Pink Tippet ; do. English 
Mary ; do. Choice Gems ; do. Pilgrim of India ; do. 
Hindoo Traveller. 
Taylor's Hints to Females ; do. Familiar Letters ; do. 
Reciprocal Duties of Parents and Children ; do. Young 
Men's Model ; do. Maternal Solicitude ; do. Elizabeth 
Palmer, 
Narratives of Christian Hindoos. 
Watts on the Mind, with Questions. 
Self Knowledge, with Questions. 
Village School. 

Adventures of a French Cabin Boy. 
Beautiful Vine. 

Blair's Catechism of Common Things. 
Guilty Tongue, or Power of Intruotion. 

Young Jewess The Pious Shepherd. 

A Visit to my Birth-Place, by the author of Annot and her 

Pupil 3uck's Models of Female Character. 

The Sisters of the Cavern My ^Father's Fireside. 



